Fungi after fire
Part of the
Atlas Fire Recovery Project
2020
The weeks and months following fire provide a good opportunity to see rare and unusual fungi. Some species appear only after intense fire, while others take advantage of the reduced competition to grow, release their spores and disperse.
Late last year we launched the Fire Fungi project. That project has even more relevance now, with so much more of the landscape having been burned – and because of the February rain events!
We encourage you to photograph the fungi you see and add your sightings to NatureMapr. Our experts will help in the species identification and the information will be of value to mycologists and ecologists … there is much about fungi that remains largely unknown.
The photos above were taken within 3 weeks of the Border Fire, south of Eden, January 2020
Here’s how to record your sightings to NatureMapr using the App. This is great for uploading photos taken on a phone. Alternatively, you can upload via a web browser - here’s a step-by-step guide.
Amidst the extensive plant regeneration we will see this year there will be some hidden gems. They’re small but worth searching for.
With animals displaced or disturbed by fire, some of the more secretive reptile species may make an appearance.
The early months of the year are when these large moths emerge. And often after rain. Have they survived the fires? Help us find out by reporting sightings of these large and quite spectacular insects.
Many fungi respond to fire. And there is much yet to discover about the range of species that behave this way.