Mapping the landscape of mycological organizations in europe: where citizen science meets professional mycology

Abstract Fungi have been used by humans since prehistoric times. Informal structures or groups for knowledge exchange regarding mushrooms and lichens probably existed for ages. Only recently, mycological activities have been structured in formal organizations. And where until a few centuries ago there were only learned societies and naturalists’ clubs, nowadays also mycological societies and citizen scientists have joined the landscape. However, the history of mycological organizations and activities in Europe is difficult to track. Here, we initiated two surveys to characterize the current landscape of mycological organizations focused on fungal diversity across Europe and to collate citizen science activities mapping fungi. The surveys were shared on social media and sent to mycologists in 49 countries in Europe. Responses of the surveys allowed us to present the history, geographical distribution, and structure of mycological organizations in Europe as well as their types of activities, including the publication of journals and magazines, the organization of meetings and educational initiatives, and citizen science projects. In addition to the surveys, local mycologists presented expert knowledge for a more comprehensive overview. Our data show that the mycological landscape in Europe is diverse and heterogeneous. We discuss ways to overcome economic, cultural, and linguistic barriers towards better integration of mycological communities, activities, and data in Europe. Mycological societies focused on studying fungal diversity can be leveraged towards common goals that include raising public awareness, data integration, uniting academics and non-academics, and developing common standards for research and communication.

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Publication Details

Journal
Biodiversity and Conservation
Published
2026-01-01
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10531-025-03219-2
Primary Topic
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
Type
article
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article

Mapping the landscape of mycological organizations in europe: where citizen science meets professional mycology

Bàlint Dima, Irmgard Krisai‐Greilhüber, Glen Dierickx, Sergio E. Favero‐Longo et al.
Biodiversity and Conservation
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
article

Mapping the landscape of mycological organizations in europe: where citizen science meets professional mycology

Bàlint Dima, Irmgard Krisai‐Greilhüber, Glen Dierickx, Sergio E. Favero‐Longo, Danny Haelewaters, Elisabet Ottosson, Nicolas V. Schwab, Andrea C. Rinaldi, Julia Pawłowska, Vasco Fachada, Polina Degtjarenko, Jacob Heilmann‐Clausen, Georgios I. Zervakis, Nina Filippova, Jorinde Nuytinck, Guilhermina Marques, Martin Westberg, Nathan Schoutteten, Igor Siedlecki, Susana C. Gonçalves, Juri Nascimbene, Reda Iršėnaitė, Paul S. Dyer, Diāna Meiere, Kadri Pärtel, Qëndrim Ramshaj, Edel M. Hyland, Katerina Rusevska, Viktor Papp, L.B. Sparrius, Manel Niell, Oleh Prylutskyi, Holger Thüs, Simone Schneider, Montserrat Ganado, Jelena Lazarević, Alessandra Zambonelli, Alfredo Vizzini, Petr Zehnálek, Dilzara Aghayeva, Rui Soares Simão, Małgorzata Ruszkiewicz-Michalska, Angelina Jorjadze
article en

Abstract

Abstract Fungi have been used by humans since prehistoric times. Informal structures or groups for knowledge exchange regarding mushrooms and lichens probably existed for ages. Only recently, mycological activities have been structured in formal organizations. And where until a few centuries ago there were only learned societies and naturalists’ clubs, nowadays also mycological societies and citizen scientists have joined the landscape. However, the history of mycological organizations and activities in Europe is difficult to track. Here, we initiated two surveys to characterize the current landscape of mycological organizations focused on fungal diversity across Europe and to collate citizen science activities mapping fungi. The surveys were shared on social media and sent to mycologists in 49 countries in Europe. Responses of the surveys allowed us to present the history, geographical distribution, and structure of mycological organizations in Europe as well as their types of activities, including the publication of journals and magazines, the organization of meetings and educational initiatives, and citizen science projects. In addition to the surveys, local mycologists presented expert knowledge for a more comprehensive overview. Our data show that the mycological landscape in Europe is diverse and heterogeneous. We discuss ways to overcome economic, cultural, and linguistic barriers towards better integration of mycological communities, activities, and data in Europe. Mycological societies focused on studying fungal diversity can be leveraged towards common goals that include raising public awareness, data integration, uniting academics and non-academics, and developing common standards for research and communication.

Biodiversity and ConservationVol. 35(1)
Eötvös Loránd University (HU), Agricultural University of Athens (GR), Uppsala University (SE), University of Copenhagen (DK), HOGENT University of Applied Sciences and Arts (BE), Queen's University Belfast (GB), Naturalis Biodiversity Center (NL), University of Vienna (AT), University of Helsinki (FI), University of Nottingham (GB), Sewanee: The University of the South (US), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (PT), Universitat de Lleida (ES), Universität Hamburg (DE), University of Cagliari (IT), Universidade do Porto (PT), Ilia State University (GE), University of Luxembourg (LU), Utrecht University (NL), Daugavpils University (LV), Research Institute for Nature and Forest (BE), Charles University (CZ), National Museum (CZ), Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart (DE), Ghent University Hospital (BE), University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice (CZ), Ghent University (BE), University of Łódź (PL), Yugra State University (RU), Hochschule Campus Wien (AT), National Library of Latvia (LV), Institute of Ecology and Botany (HU), British Mycological Society (GB), University of Andorra (AD), Secretaria Regional do Ambiente e Recursos Naturais (PT), CSI Piemonte (IT), Altaiskiy State Nature Biosphere Reserve (RU), Ministry of Science and Education Republic of Azerbaijan (AZ), Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (ES), Institute of Entomology (CZ), Junta de Castilla y León (ES), Eesti Reumatoloogia Selts (EE), Swedish Species Information Centre (SE), Nature Research Centre (LT), Institut de Biologia Evolutiva (ES), Russian Respiratory Society (RU), Department of Public Health (US), University of Turin (IT), University of Tartu (EE), University of Montenegro (ME), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje (MK), University of Coimbra (PT), University of Prishtina (XK), Leibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures (DE), V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University (UA), SES (Luxembourg) (LU), University of Bologna (IT)
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Openalex Percentile: Top 91%
Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
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