Check out the New York Mycological Society report on fungal diversity in New York City!

While cities might conjure images of steel and concrete, New York City pulses with a hidden biodiversity that rivals any forest floor. Forget the Big Apple, think “Big Mushroom”.  Over 1,200 species of fungi call this urban jungle home, many rare or even unknown to science. 

This incredible diversity is being meticulously documented by our dedicated members. Every weekend we venture into the city’s green spaces, recording every single fungal find on every single walk on a list – “the list”, as well as a database. Thanks to the thousands of members who have attended our walks over the past decade and a half, we now have an extensive and precise record of the tremendous fungal diversity in New York City. In fact, thanks to your efforts, New York City is now the best-documented metropolis for fungi in the world.

But because few people will venture into a database, we’ve now turned this long-term citizen science project into a gorgeous report, a visual celebration of NYC’s fungal world.  Explore the data, understand the club’s history, discover the impact of climate change, and meet the passionate individuals who make this project possible. You might even find yourself among the pages! This report is a testament to the power of community and the wonders hidden in plain sight.

Download the report here

This report wouldn’t exist without the dedication of many individuals.  A special thanks to Larissa Hayden for stewarding this project, building and designing it and for keeping us on track. Ethan Crenson and Amanda Alic for building our database and Ethan for diligently maintaining “the list” on every walk, Vicky Tartter for her years of meticulous recording, Jesse Markowitz for his insightful data analysis and visualizations, everyone who contributed text or photographs, and Nancy Kousholt for the beautiful cover art.  And of course,  immense gratitude to our members who brave all weather to uncover the city’s fungal treasures!