Bio 430                               Instructions for Field Collections                   2006

 

Overview

  • Field work begins with gathering specimens.   These are placed in bags and assigned a number and brief notes are made.
  • Laboratory-follow-up occurs immediately after returning from the field.  You must allow at least as much time for this step as you spent in the field.  During this phase, additional notes and measurements are made on the specimens while they are still fresh. A portion of a cap is sacrificed for a spore print. Larger specimens are sliced into pieces not more than 1cm thick. All samples are placed on a drier.  
  • Identification. If time permits, tentative identifications can be made during the laboratory follow-up. However, additional evidence that requires sectioning and examination of the sporocarp is necessary.  This will be done from dried material at a later date.   All data, macro- and microscopic, are recorded in your lab note book.   Later these notes will be entered in a database.
  • Computer printed labels, generated from a database, are printed on acid free paper prior to folding the specimen packets.

 

Collecting Equipment.

  • Knife with a sturdy blade about 4 inches long.
  • A rigid container such as a box or potato basket. (A backpack works in a pinch, but softer specimens are likely to get crushed.)
  • Paper bags for individual collections. Brown sandwich bags are a good size and sold in bundles at the grocery store. Wax paper will also work. (Never use plastic bags)
  • An indelible marking pencil. (Marks A Lot )
  • A pen with acid free ink (Look for Pentel or Zebra brands) It will say acid free on the package.
  • A small pocket size notebook and pencil.
  • Clothing and shoes you don't mind getting dirty.
  • Compass

 

Some thoughts about what you are doing.

 

  • Take care in removing your specimen from the substrate so that buried parts are not left behind.  Use a knife, not your fingers to do this.
  • The ideal collecting situation is to find a sample with multiple fruiting bodies that provide the full complement of developmental stages from young to fully mature sporocarps. Generally the more stages you have, the easier it is to fit the specimen with a description and illustrations of the species.
  • More frequently you will have to settle for just one or two fruiting bodies.  The important thing to remember, in this case, is to avoid collecting material that is obviously too old or too young.

Taking notes and assigning a specimen number.

Place your specimen in a paper bag (or wax paper), and assign it a number. Use and an indelible marker to mark the lower portion of the bag. (Since you will be sharing drier space with other students, it is a good idea to put your initials on the bag too.  In your small notebook take notes on the following:

  • Date and Locality. In your field notebook using pencil, start with the date and approximate locality information—more information can be obtained from a map later.  If a GPS receiver is available get the latitude and longitude.
  • Substrate. After locality put the number you assigned the specimen followed by information which should include substrate (what the fungus is growing on). If it is growing from the ground then make a note of the closest trees/shrubs (plant genus.  Take leaf sample, I can help you with this later. If you can’t do that then note whether the host tree or shrub is a hardwood (broadleaf) or softwood (evergreen or conifer). .
  • Specimen data. Note basic color of the cap, gills and stalk. Also note whether the specimens are solitary, scattered, gregarious (in close groups) or cespitose (with the base of the stalks attached to each other).
  • If you have a camera with a close up lens, take photos of the specimens arranged in such a way that the cap surface, gills and stalk are all visible.
  • All field notes must be transcribed to a permanent notebook at the end of the day. This is important as additional notes from lab must be collated into one place. Measurements made on your specimens and spore print color will augment your field notes.  Microscopic observations which will be made at a later date.

 

Permanent Notebook

 

·        On the right hand page of your notebook record your field data and initial laboratory observations as shown in the example below.

·        In the left hand page I will make my microscopic observations which include measurements on hyphal diameter, color and septations. My observations emphasize hymenial tissues, especially the type of spore-producing cells (shape and size)  spores (shape, size and surface) and any sterile elements which may be present such as setae or cystidia.

·        I generally make two mounts of microscopic tissues when examining spores. One in KOH and another in Melzer’s solution. KOH is fairly reliable mounting medium for making measurements and also gives a pretty good idea of the actually color of the tissues. Melzer’s reagent contains iodine and gives a blue reaction (amyloid) or reddish brown reaction (dextrinoid) or no reaction (inamyloid) that is consistent for a fungal species. This should be reported with your laboratory notes.

·        I also make drawings or photograph these features.

Drying Specimens.

 

·        Take large fleshy specimens and cut into smaller parts no more than one cm thick. There will be some shrinkage as these dry, but keep in mind that your final packets for your collections will be about 4 by 5 inches in size and about 1cm deep. Smaller specimens may not require any cutting.  See me if you have woody specimens to cut up.

·        Cut the top off your original bag leaving enough of the bottom to contain your specimen. Be sure your original number is still on the bag.  That’s why I told you to write the number on the lower portion of the bag earlier.

·        The plant dryer is located in the solarium. Check your materials daily.  Overnight usually is sufficient drying time.   Thick woody specimens will take longer.

·        Place your specimens in a folded envelope and be sure to put your specimen number and your initials on the outside of the envelope flap.  A show box is a good container for storing specimen packets.

 

Spore Prints.

 

·        To make a spore print you will need a mature specimen. 

·        Remove the cap from the stalk. Place the cap with the hymenophore down on a white piece of acid free paper.  For large specimens, half or even a quarter of a cap is sufficient for a good spore print. 

·        Place a bowl or some other container of appropriate size over the cap to protect it from air currents.  If the specimen is mature, a mass of spores will be deposited overnight on the paper.  This will produce an accurate record of the spore color,

·        After air drying the spore print spray it with clear paint to make a permanent record that can be included in your packet.  

·        Do this in the fume hood.  Use the box provided to catch the overspray and be sure to clear the spray can nozzle when done.   This is done by turning the can upside down and spraying against the box for a few seconds.

 

Fulfillment of this Assignment.

 

The following must be included in your collection:

 

Basidiomycota (12)

  • 5 gilled mushrooms representing at least three different families in the Agaricales
  • 6 nongilled mushrooms including 2 boletes, 2 polypores, 1 puffball, 1 jelly fungus,
  • 1 smut or a rust

Ascomycota (3)

  • One each of perithecial, apothecial and cleistocthecial fungi.

Lichens (3)

  • One each of foliose, fruticose and crustose forms.

Molds (2)

  • 2 pure culture isolates in slanted tubes.

Optional (6)

  • Permanent Notebook--sample of right hand page.

     
     
    6 additional specimens may be included for extra credit--30 points. Keep these separate from your main collection.

 

 


 

 

Permanent Notebook--sample from left hand page.