Myco-WebReviews of interesting web sitesThe Internet is Changing the way Mycology is done!The Internet is changing the way mycology
is done. It has promoted fast and easy communication
between researchers through electronic mail and
newsgroups. One of the newest tools for reaching a broad
range of people and educating them about mycology is the
World Wide Web, which can include video and still images
as well as text. Increasing numbers of web sites are
available that provide up-to-date information and
illustrations from nearly every aspect of mycology. Keys
and databases are increasingly available, including such
valuable resources as herbarium and nomenclature
databases. One problem is the lack of peer review on the
internet; anyone with a computer can put up a web site,
leading to much misinformation that can be interpreted as
fact. This website discusses some advantages, problems
and the future of the internet as a source of
information. [Spores Afield - 10/98] Agaricales of the Hawaiian IslandsThis month's website pick is called Agaricales of the Hawaiian Islands. It is a biotic survey project funded by the National Science Foundation that is designed to document the diversity, distribution and ecology of agarics and boletes (i.e., mushrooms) from the Hawaiian Archipelago. Dr. Dennis Desjardin of San Francisco State University, Dr. Don Hemmes of the University of Hawai`i, Hilo and Dr. George Wong of the University of Hawai`i, Manoa are the co-authors of the study. Dr. Desjardin will be speaking on this subject at the August CMS meeting. The Hawaiian Archipelago is the largest and most isolated oceanic island group in the world. Located in the central Pacific Ocean, the Islands are more than 4000 km from the nearest continent and about 3200 km from the nearest high-island group. The Archipelago is composed of eight main islands in the southeastern region (Ni`ihau, Kaua`i, O`ahu, Moloka`i, Lana`i, Kaho`olawe, Maui, and Hawai`i) and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands (Nihoa to Kure Atoll). The project is designed to survey the diversity of Agaricales on six of the eight main islands (excluding Ni`ihau and Kaho`olawe). Prior to beginning this project, less than 100 species of agarics and boletes had been reported from the Islands. Preliminary determinations indicate that at least 255 species of agarics and boletes occur in the Hawaiian Islands. Of the originally reported 100 species, 65% were misdetermined as a result of using north temperate North American and European mushroom epithets for tropical taxa. Extensive research in pristine native forest regions indicates that there are only about 30 native Hawaiian species of mushrooms. Of these, 25 represent new species and are considered endemic taxa, while the remaining 5 native species are indigenous. They expect this total will reach only about 50 native species when all of their material is processed and determined. The remaining 225 taxa (88%) so far known from the Hawaiian Islands represent alien species introduced either directly or indirectly through human activities over the past 1500 years. These alien species have been introduced from all over the world, presumably as passengers on plants and animals. The site includes some very pretty pictures of some of the fungi found there. The URL of the site is: http://www.mycena.sfsu.edu/hawaiian/Agaricales.html [Spores Afield - 8/98] MycoInfoThis month's pick is MycoInfo, The World's First Mycology E-Journal The site was created by Phil McIntosh and Brian McNett. MycoInfo bills itself as "your resource for mycology news, feature articles, and mycology events." They cover All aspects of fungal biology (including cell and molecular biology, taxonomy and systematics, ecology, industrial mycology, medicine, mushroom collecting and food production). We also cover lichenized fungi and myxomycetes. The site also offers several mushroom related items for sale including Melzer's reagent. Melzer's reagent is used in microscopic examination of mushroom spores and tissues. It is hard to find. The URL of the site is: http://www.mycoinfo.com [Spores Afield - 7/98] Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi:This month's pick is Treasures from the Kingdom of Fungi. The site was created by Taylor Lockwood. Taylor has been a speaker at our monthly meetings. His mushroom photography is outstanding. I don't know quite how to describe this site, except to say that the pictures are beautiful and the site will make you think. Take the "tour" and follow the instructions on the screen. Be sure you don't miss "I'm Ready" and test your mushroom knowledge. Taylor gets 5 stars for creativity! The hyperlink to this site is: http://www.mcn.org/2/tfl/ [Spores Afield - 6/98] On-line synoptic key of common Basidiomycetes:There are so many interesting mushroom related web sites on the World Wide Web that I am hard put to select one to review. My choice this month is a link I found on the British Mycological Society web site. Mike Walton has developed an on-line synoptic key of common British Basidiomycetes. The key identifies gilled mushrooms to genus. Many mushroom field guides have printed keys, but this is the first interactive key that I have seen! The URL of the key is: http://www.personal.u-net.com/~ivyhouse/normkey.htm [Spores Afield - 4/98] Advice for Beginners || About CMS || Colorado Links || Home || Links || Member Activities || Meetings || Mushroom Fair || Mushroomers Message Center || NAMA || Recipes || Spores Afield || Site Index || Telluride Mushroom Conf. || Whats New || ©1998 Colorado Mycological Society - All rights reserved |
