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Fungus

Conservation

Knowledge of the conservation status of fungi is currently very limited. Only fifteen species of fungi have been fully evaluated by the World Conservation Union, but at least half of them are considered threatend. This is because fungi are more diverse than plants and animals. Many fungi currently classified cannot be seen by the naked eye—making evaluation difficult. Most fungi live underground or within the bodies of other organisms. It is possible to count the population of fungal species by counting the number of fruiting bodies, but this method is highly inaccurate. It is important to realize that the fruiting bodies of fungi do not represent the whole organism, but rather that part of the fungus responsible for reproduction. Also, each hyphae of the mycelium of a species of fungus can produce a fruiting body, so the visible parts counted could just be one part of a singular organism.

Mycologist who study fungi suggest that the practice of harvesting fungi should not threaten fungal populations, since any one member of a species is capable of producing numerous fruiting bodies. But some countries have started to control collecting. The most devastating damage likely to be inflicted on the fungal population is destruction of their habitat, which causes competition between resources and threatens less adapted species with extinction. The destruction of plant populations can also affect fungi, because many fungi form symbiotic relationships with them, and rely on them for survival.