2006 Fungi of Fingal Woodlands - Fingal Biodiversity

Ecological Study of the Countryside Habitats in County Fingal Woodland fungi
Summary
This is the first study of its kind in Dublin parks. The sites were selected as they have
been stable areas of woodland and parkland with contrasting geology and management
history. It was considered that these sites would be among the richest in Fingal for fungi.
237 different species of Fungi were recorded in the course of the survey between August
and October 2006. 64 of these species were new records for County Dublin. The
methodology was traditional - based on finding sound, mature species in the field and
then confirming species names in the laboratory simply by optical and taxonomic means.
European literature and keys to Genera were consulted. No molecular methods were
utilised. Lichens, symbiotic relationships between fungi and algae or fungi with
cyanobacteria, were also recorded in the course this study but were not the main focus.
This study will hopefully inform, at a basic level, on the distribution of fungal species in
the Fingal area. Data on associated habitats and vascular plant associations has been kept
with fungal species records and six-figure grid references to provide context. In time, the
work may be cross-referenced with studies on other biological groups made around this
time also, to perhaps address questions, for example fungi as food for squirrels here.
It is obvious from our results that we are merely commencing to understand the fungal
diversity in the Fingal area. Modern techniques and regular surveying in Spring and
Autumn will help to give a clearer picture of fungi in Fingal into the future.
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