Abstract
In this study, we investigated the impact of fire, precipitation, and temperature on mushroom abundance and diversity using Mushroom Observer, a participatory-science-driven database. We found that the occurrence of fire did not significantly affect mushroom abundance in selected California counties. Precipitation and temperature analysis both reveal a strong effect on mushroom abundance and diversity. However, the direction and magnitude of these correlations vary, likely influenced by the unique climate conditions of each area. Overall, the use of participatory science in ecological analysis was found to be feasible, and further exploration using public data is encouraged.
Main goals of this project:
- Observe, investigate, and demonstrate the effects of weather events such as fire, precipitation, and temperature on fungal diversity, richness, abundance.
- Evaluate the efficacy of using public data and citizen science in making analyses
- Model the effect, or lack of effect of these events on fungal diversity, and produce plausible reasons for both using existing literature.
- Use statistical tests to compare effects of weather on various species of macrofungi using the MushroomObserver database.
Contributions:
- Brandon: Fire data analysis, mapping, CalFire data manipulation, functions to use.
- Seoyeong: Fire data analysis, writing, literature research, CalFire data manipulation, statistical tests on fire.
- Kevin: Climate data analysis, mushroom observer data manipulation, climate diversity distribution, climate GLMs.
- Eli: Climate effect research, writing, context, methods, predictions.