Fungi – The Forgotten Kingdom!
“A Critically Endangered Ecological Community of Fungi”
– Listings, Species, Inter-dependency, Threats & Management
Wednesday 17th June (wet-weather date - 24th June) 2015
Presenters: Dr.
Ray & Elma Kearney
The NSW ECA is pleased to present a Fungi Workshop to be held in the Cove Room at the Lane
Cove Council and Lane Cove Bushland Park.
The full and wonderful diversity of life—is still widely portrayed as “flora and fauna” or “animals
and plants”. These lazy and misleading descriptions can even be found on websites of major
biological institutions and learned societies which should and do know better. Biodiversity is so
much more than “animals and plants”. The five Kingdom classification of life, which recognises
fungi in a Kingdom of their own, has been generally accepted by scientists since at least 1970
and, with an estimated 1.5 million species of fungi on this planet and a presence in all major
ecosystems--freshwater, marine and terrestrial alike, this Kingdom is mega-diverse. There are far
more fungi than all the plants and vertebrates put together. To ignore them is not a sensible
option.
Most nature reserve management plans do not take fungi into account. Fungi are often
treated as part of the problem, rather than recognised as themselves being in need of
protection. In many countries there is no explicit legal protection for fungi.
Nowhere in the entire NSW Final Report by the Independent Biodiversity Legislation Review
Panel is there mention of fungi despite the fact that Ray and Elma Kearney, on behalf of the
Sydney Fungal Studies Group Inc. have set precedents in fungi conservation. Such an omission
puts fungal conservation so far behind animal and plant conservation and illustrates why fungi
are so overlooked.
The Kearney's submissions to the respective NSW Scientific Committees (2000 and 2014) led to
the Committee’s Final Determinations in fungi conservation, gazetted in 2000 and 2014, to list
the fungal assemblage (now over 30 species in the Hygrocybeae community) in Lane Cove
Bushland Park/Osborne Park as being “Critically Endangered”. This fungal assemblage is ranked
of ‘international significance’.
At present, fungi are not taken into account at all in identifying areas of high biodiversity and,
as a result, there is a danger that globally important hotspots are being overlooked.
Fungi are neither plants, nor animals, but they are more closely related to animals than plants.
They form their own Kingdom, under the domain Eukarya.
This Workshop (PowerPoint, posters and interactive discussion) will include:
1. An outline of the Listings of the subject fungal assemblage – facts and findings!
2. Identification of the threatened species in the family Hygrophoraceae. Fungal
taxonomic groupings,
3. Problems with fungal classification by ‘lumpers’ and ‘splitters’. Modern taxonomic tools,
4. Fungi conservation – bush regeneration management: good, bad and totally improper,
5. Interdependency of biological species including fungi, plants and animals,
6. Threats – causes and effects. Solutions and good policies/practices. How effective is the
law?
7. Bio-security issues in bushland – a case study (new information),
8. An afternoon fungal field study in Lane Cove Bushland Park.
Agenda
9 am ……………………..…. Start
9. 05 am - 10 am…………… Lecture 1 – Ray Kearney
 Fungi are neither plants nor animals – but have a separate Kingdom
 History of the fungal Listings – State and National Legislation
 Over 30 species of protected fungi in the family Hygrophoraceae
 Facts and findings
 Identification & classification
10 am - 10. 20 am…………. Morning tea and poster viewing
10.30 am - 11.15 am ……… Lecture 2 – Ray Kearney
 Problems with fungal classification involving ‘lumpers’ and ‘splitters’.
 Modern taxonomic tools
 Fungi conservation – bush regeneration management: good, bad and totally
improper.
 Interdependency of biological species including fungi, plants and animals;
 Ecology and unique association of these fungi with bryophytes (e.g., mosses)
11.30 am - 12.30 am ……… Lecture 3 – Ray Kearney
 Threats – causes and effects. Solutions and good policies/practices. How effective is
the law?
 Bio-security issues in bushland and mycology – a case study (new information).
12.30am - 1pm……………… Lunch
1pm - 1.15pm ………………. Meet at Osborne Road entrance to Lane Cove Bushland Park
1.15pm - 4.15pm…………… Fungal field study in LCBP (led by Ray & Elma)
4.30pm ……………………….. Finish
How to get there?
The Cove Room is located in the Lane Cove Civic Centre, on the corner of Epping and
Longueville Roads, Lane Cove. There are City buses at the door, along with buses to and from
Chatswood and St Leonards railway stations. Onsite parking is also available.
When
The workshop will be held from 9 am – 4.30 pm Wednesday 17th June. A wet-weather date of
Wednesday the 24th June 2015 as been set in an attempt to see the endangered species which
fruit about 4-days after steady rain and when temperatures are below 180C, if weather
conditions have not been suitable prior to the 17th.
Costs
The cost for an ECA member is $50 and the cost for an ECA non-member is $80 which includes
morning tea.
What to bring
 Paper and pen for taking notes
 Lunch
 Suitable clothing and footwear for the field component
Registration
ONLINE
You may register and pay on-line at www.ecansw.org.au
EMAIL / MAIL
Email your registration form to admin@ecansw.org.au or
Post your registration form to: Administration Assistant
Amy Rowles
Ecological Consultants Association of NSW
39 Platt St, Waratah, NSW 2298
(please also email admin@ecansw.org.au and notify me that you have posted your registration to
secure your place)
Direct deposit payment:
Account Name: Ecological Consultants Association
Bank: Westpac
Branch: New Lambton NSW
BSB 032-507
Account No: 122011
Please email the administration assistant at admin@ecansw.org.au and the treasurer at
treasurer@ecansw.org.au following a successful direct deposit to confirm payment. Please also put
your name in the description
Cheques/money orders:
Post to the Administration Assistant along with your registration form
PLEASE NOTE
 That this registration also forms an official tax invoice.
Ecological Consultants
Association of NSW ABN: 85 213 648 549
 Registration closes COB 10th of June
 Refunds will not be issued for a cancellation after the 10th of June.
Contact
Amy Rowles
0418 451 488
admin@ecansw.org.au
ECA Fungi Workshop
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Amount Enclosed (please circle)
$ 50 (member)
$ 80 (non-member)
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