top of page
FUNGI PHOTOGRAPHY
We all love to photograph the fungi that we find. Posting our photos on social media is a popular way to share our passion with others. Let us be considerate of fellow travellers, the land we visit and the creatures that live there, so we can help keep these experiences special for us now, and for future generations. Below are a few easy steps you can take.
DO
Leave it as you find it, others may have already kindly done the same for you.
Walk on the area as less as possible, try not to clear away areas around the mushrooms. If you clear away leaf litter to see the fungus in your photo, replace it before you leave.
DO
Use a mirror to take photos of the gills / underside of mushrooms. Using a mirror gives you an easy, clear view under the cap of the mushroom making it unnecessary to remove it.
DO
Use a longer focal length camera lense/zoom to photograph small subjects. The longer the focal length of your lense, the further away from the mushroom you can be.
DO
When posting mushroom photos on online, provide context. If the mushrooms in your photo looks to have been partly eaten, or dug up etc by an animal, you may wish to include this information in your social media post. It is helpful for others learning online and reduces uncertainty around illegal taking of fungi.
DO
Decide if you want to publically include the exact location of your photo in social media posts. Publically announcing the location of a popular mushroom leads to increased visits from observers and can lead to soil compaction and other impacts eg: noise or disturbance to local residents and fauna. Consider using private messaging if you wish to share location information.
DO
Clean your vehicles, camping equipment and shoes before going on walks to national parks to help stop the spread of disease.
STOPPING THE SPREAD
*When visiting areas to view fungi, keep in mind the spread of potentially invasive fungi such as Fly Agaric - Amanita muscaria and Ping Pong Bats - Favolaschia calocera.
See the NRM South page which tells you what you need to do when visiting areas to stop the spread of disease.
Amanita muscaria has the potential to displace native ectomycorrhizal species that partner with native trees such as Myrtle Beech - Nothofagus cunninghamii, but how this may affect the ecology and health of native forests and biodiversity more generally, is not yet known. (Fungimap)
Favolaschia calocera also known as Orange Pore Fungus or Ping-pong bats, is an orange coloured, introduced, wood-inhabiting fungus and is considered as invasive, potentially displacing native species.
If you find this fungus, please log your observation on the iNaturalist project:
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/83576-Favolaschia-calocera
this project is mapping the spread.
Phytophthora Root Rot or Phytophthora cinnamomi, is a disease which attacks the roots of susceptible plants. In Tasmania, the vegetation types most affected are heathland, moorlands, dry sclerophyll forest and scrub. Source: (DPIPWI website)
Myrtle rust (Austropuccinia psidii) is a disease-causing exotic fungus which threatens around 350 native species. It has recently been discovered in Burnie, Tasmania. (Fungimap)
Visiting, collecting, disturbing or foraging of fungi on public land
Taking fungi from the wild.
Generally you will need a state and/or council permit to collect fungi on public lands including National Parks, State Forests, crown land and places like local sports fields or reserves.
To collect fungi on private land you must ensure that you have permission from private land-holders and/or land managers and land management authorities (such as Councils, Forestry District Managers etc.) before undertaking any activity allowed by the Permit issued to you in these areas. ï‚·
If you are not sure about what you can and cannot collect with or without a permit, contact the Department of Primary Industries in your state.
bottom of page