Fungi are mystical, often overlooked, and helping scientists learn more

Amateur naturalists and professional researchers are documenting fungi and lichens to fill major knowledge gaps; only about 155,000 species have been recorded while an estimated 2.5 million may exist, and many species face threats such as climate change, habitat loss and pollution.

Fungi enthusiasts and scientists are surveying coastal California sites and recording lichens and rare mushrooms such as the Manzanita butter clump. Fungi form their own kingdom that includes mushrooms, lichens, molds and yeasts and play essential roles as decomposers and symbionts. Only a small fraction of fungal diversity has been formally documented, and many species remain hidden or poorly known. Growing interest from citizen scientists and coordinated data efforts is expanding what researchers know about fungal distribution and conservation needs. What scientists report: - Researchers estimate about 2.5 million fungal species worldwide and note an economic contribution estimated at $54 trillion for uses such as food and medicine. - Only about 155,000 fungal species have been documented, or roughly 6% of the estimated total. - Most fungi live as mycelial networks and produce visible fruiting bodies only intermittently, which makes detection difficult. - Threats identified include climate change (shifts in rainfall and temperature), worsening wildfires, flooding, logging, development, invasive insects, pollution and overharvesting of some species. - The International Union for Conservation of Nature lists 411 of 1,300 evaluated fungi as at risk globally, and the U.S. currently lists only two fungi (both lichens) under the federal Endangered Species Act. - Citizen science platforms and amateur mycologists sharing photographs on sites like iNaturalist and Mushroom Observer are helping scientists document diversity and spot species that may be in trouble. Summary: Interest from amateur naturalists and formal conservation groups is producing new records and stronger data about fungi and lichens, which helps reveal species distributions and potential threats. Conservation attention in the U.S. is described as behind some other regions, and researchers report that continued documentation and data-sharing will guide future assessments and protection efforts.