Fungal Ethnoecology: Observed Habitat Preferences and the Perception of Changes in Fungal Abundance by Mushroom Collectors in Poland

This research examined how mushroom collectors in Poland understand and describe where different mushrooms grow and how mushroom populations have changed over time. The study reveals that local mushroom collectors have detailed knowledge about mushroom habitats that sometimes exceeds scientific understanding. Most notably, collectors have observed a concerning decline in mushroom abundance, mainly due to increasing drought conditions. Impacts on everyday life: – Helps preserve traditional knowledge about mushroom habitats that could be lost as older generations pass away – Provides early warning signs about environmental changes affecting wild mushroom populations – Demonstrates how citizen observations can contribute to scientific understanding and monitoring of nature – Highlights the importance of considering local knowledge in forest management and conservation – Shows how climate change is affecting food resources that many people traditionally gather