Fungi of the
The Peaks of Otter and Surrounding Areas
This project finds its beginning in the many hikes that
I have taken over the years through the
My hobby of photographing fungi was taken to an entirely
new level during the summer of 2004 as a graduate student at Mountain Lake
Biological Station in
Using Dr. Vilgalys as a spring board for ideas about a
thesis project in combination with guidance from other faculty advisors (Zach
Murrell Appalachian State University,
Henry Wilbur and
Laura Galloway
Starting in the summer of 2004 I began to survey a 60.1
mile section of the Blue Ridge Parkway between Otter Lake Loop Trail (milepost
63.1) and Buck Mountain Trail (milepost 123.2) in order to determine the most
common and unique fungi of the Peaks of Otter and surrounding areas.
In other words, my goal was to determine to the best of my ability what
fungi fruitbodies an individual would be likely to encounter if he or she were
to take a leisurely stroll along one of the trails listed below.
The following sites were surveyed for fungi fruitbodies:
1.
Milepost 63.1 Otter Lake Loop Trail
2.
Milepost 63.6 Trail of Trees Self-Guiding Trail
3.
Milepost 63.6
4.
Milepost 74.7 Thunder Ridge Trail
5.
Milepost 78.4 Apple Orchard Falls Trail
6.
Milepost 79.7 Onion Mountain Loop Trail
7.
Milepost 83.1 Fallingwater Cascades
8.
Milepost 83.5 Flat Top Trail
9.
Milepost 85.7 Abbot Lake Loop Trail
10.
Milepost 85.7 Peaks of Otter Picnic Area Trail
11.
Milepost 85.9 Elk Run Self-Guiding Trail
12.
Milepost 85.9 Johnson Farm Loop Trail
13.
Milepost 85.9 Harkening Hill Trail
14.
Milepost 86.0 Sharp Top Trail
15.
Milepost 114.9
16.
Milepost 115.0 Society of American Foresters Trail
17.
Milepost 120.4 Roanoke Mountain Summit Trail
18.
Milepost 123.2 Buck Mountain Trail
In addition to the aforementioned sites, two additional
sites at the base of the
Each site was surveyed in the following manner:
a.
Trail was walked from beginning to end
b.
Fungi fruitbodies discovered along and / or near the trail were
digitally photographed
c.
Fungi fruitbodies discovered along and / or near the trail were
collected
d.
Collected fungi fruitbodies were identified using field guides and
keys
After being identified, the fungi fruitbodies were then
dried using a homemade dryer designed specifically for the drying and
preservation of fungi fruitbodies. Upon
completion of the drying phase each specimen collection was placed in a storage
container (Zip-Lock Bags) with an identification tag and then placed into
another larger storage container (Plastic Storage Totes).
Furthermore, detailed descriptions of each species were made that
included information on the following characteristics: cap or fruitbody, gills
or pore surface, stalk, spore print, and habitat with additional comments made
when necessary. Final verification
of each specimen in the collection along with individual descriptions of each
species was made by Dr. Vilgalys. The
collection of fungi fruitbodies for this project is currently stored at
Once the written portion of the project was complete the
next step was to create an online field guide that documented the most common
and unique fungi fruitbodies of the Peaks of Otter and surrounding areas.
The field guide not only contains images and descriptions of fungi
fruitbodies, but also includes general information on the following topics:
A.
What are Fungi?
B.
How do fungi obtain nutrients?
C.
The Structure of Fungi
D.
Mushroom Growth and Reproduction
E.
Basidomycetes vs. Ascomycetes
F.
Fungal Partnerships: Lichens and Mycorrhizae
G.
Fungi and the Environment
H.
Mushroom Poisoning
I.
Collecting Mushrooms
J.
Identification and Terminology: Macroscopic and Microscopic
Characteristics
K.
Mushroom Preservation
L.
Common Questions about Mushrooms
The home page for this project can be reached by clicking the appropriate hover button at left.