 Continuing a study that began two years ago,
Dr. Audrey Gabel, professor of botany at Black Hills
State University, will visit sites in the Black Hills
this summer studying mushrooms and other fleshy fungi. The
summer's research work is funded by a $3,800 grant from
the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish, and Parks. She
and research associate Elaine Ebbert have goals this
summer of adding to the list of fungi collected, making
statistical data comparisons between sites and years,
photograph fungi, and prepare specimens for entry in the
university's fungal collection.
Long-term objectives of the Black Hills fungi research
include continuation of the study and fungi
identification, making comparisons regarding fungi fruit
which is infrequent and inconsistent, determine
relationships between fungi and vegetation, fungi and
moisture, and fungi and temperature. They also plan to
monitor
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incidence of plant disease
organisms, plant health and diversity, changes in the
Black Hills Ecosystems and determine relationships
between fungi and land use. Five sites were selected
as permanent sites for the long-term study. Other sites,
however, will be studied but visited less frequently.
The researchers expect to collect many new species of
fungi this summer. They will also have the weather
records of 1998 and 1999 to compare temperature and
moisture to species collected and to species present.
Collected species will be presented to the South Dakota
Natural Heritage data base and the university collection.
Ultimately, Gabel plans to complete a book titled
Mushrooms and Related Fungi of the Black Hills. The
book will include information describing fungi, fungal
morphology, and collecting techniques. Descriptions,
color photos and keys for identifications will also be
included in the final edition.
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