Working With Fungi

As a basic rule, we suggest that you try any or many different local fungi that are NOT weedy, pest or problem fungi. If any indigenous recycler, mycorrhizal,  endophytic or beneficial fungi establish in revegetation, then you have succeeded. The activities of these local fungi will contribute to a gradual shift in the revegetation from a soil environment alien to native fungi to one which should encourage self-colonization of many other native fungi from nearby bushlands. ‘Alien’ or exotic and cosmopolitan fungi are more common in highly managed environments.

Revegetation programs may choose to source and re-introduce a broad range of local fungi, including common species, as well as some rare and endangered fungi. Know your local weedy or problematic species and take care NOT to spread them.

Some practitioners may choose to include certain native fungi which have “weed-like” attributes, enabling them to thrive in soil recently held under crops or grazing, as a stage in restoration. Knowing problem species is critically important as low diversity communities are more vulnerable. It would be best to choose a selection of fungi representing different ecological types – decomposer (recycling), mycorrhizal, endophytes etc.

Choose local fungi, as these are suited to local conditions and best match  indigenous vegetation. Variations in topographical, geological, soil and vegetation conditions within remnant patches of woodland greatly influence the types and diversity of fungi. For example, sites with thickets of sheoaks and wattles in heavier soils tend to have different suites of fungi to those found in sandier soil types with heath-dominated vegetation nearby. 

More informed choices of fungi will be made when one is armed with an ability to recognize different types of fungi, their roles in the environment and how they  propagate.