9.3
Macrofungi
Macrofungi are those fungi that
produce fruit bodies that are generally visible to the human eye
(greater than 1 cm in diameter). These are the mushrooms, toadstools
and puff-balls that are commonly lumped in the public's perspective.
It is thought that the number of macrofungi may well exceed the
number of vascular plants in British Columbia, however, the present
state of knowledge of the macrofungal flora of the province is poor
at best. For more than 90% of the province, less than 1% of the
macrofungal flora has been systematically documented (Redhead, 1994).
Macrofungi are beneficial to many
trees as they help provide roots with nutrients, water and protection
from root pathogens. They also can form part of the diet of animals
at higher trophic levels, such as squirrels, voles, and deer. Others,
by causing wood decay, create essential habitats for insects and
ultimately larger animals. Mushrooms such as chanterelles and pine
mushrooms harvested directly from the wild are an important cash
crop for many humans. Macrofungi are also used extensively in the
pharmaceutical industry because of their beneficial chemical makeup
(Redhead, 1994).
As with most plant species, and in particular,
the non-vascular plants, macrofungi are typically overlooked in
any planning and decision-making processes. The greatest threat
is habitat destruction, which is proceeding for the most part unabated
in both the forest and non-forest ecosystems of the province outside
of protected areas. The Columbia Basin is no exception in this regard.
Inventories need to be conducted, rarity assigned and the results
included in planning and decision-making processes.
