Amanita carneiphylla
Conservation status priority 2

Plants, animals and fungi do not live separately in Western Australia's ecosystems but are strongly interlinked. Many of our plants such as eucalypts, wattles, and orchids can thrive in poor soils because they have beneficial fungi partners. Many of our animals such as bandicoots, potoroos and beetles depend on fungi for their food or habitat. Our research is beginning to discover just how fungi can help reduce the likelihood of extinction of plants, animals and loss of ecological communities.

What we do

• Evaluate the relationship of fungi biodiversity to forest disturbance and health
• Research the ecology of fungi including beneficial linkages with plants and animals
• Advise on fungal pathology and wood decay in south-western forests
• Carry out surveys of fungi biodiversity, including engaging community involvement
• Augment fungi and data for permanent reference at the Western Australian Herbarium
• Discover, name and describe fungi species

Key activities and projects

• Long-term monitoring of fungi biodiversity in southwest forests - FORESTCHECK
• Effect of wildfire on forest fungi
• Role of fungi in diagnosing recent woylie declines in south-western Australia
• Role of fungi in Gilberts potoroo (Potorous gilbertii) recovery plan
• Improving the comprehensiveness, accuracy and availability of taxonomic data about WA’s fungi in DEC biological datasets and biodiversity collections
• Perth Urban Bushland Fungi Project
• Fungi of the Perth Region - on-line self-managed format book (PDF 8.82MB)

Research information sheets

• Fire mosaics can enhance macrofungal biodiversity (PDF 170 KB)
• Gilbert's potoroo translocated to new areas find their fungi (PDF 176 KB)

Our researchers and their areas of expertise

• Dr Neale Bougher (Western Australian Herbarium)
• Dr Richard Robinson (Manjimup Research Station)