Over the course of more than a decade, mycologists Danny Newman and Roo Vandegrift embarked on numerous expeditions to an unexplored area of Ecuador. The Los Cedros reserve in the Ecuadorian Andes is a cloud forest, receiving most of its precipitation from low-level clouds. Between 2008 and 2019, Newman and Vandegrift identified an incredible 727 species of fungi within this 52-square-kilometer region. Some of the fungi specimens they discovered in Los Cedros are showcased in captivating photos, including one believed to be from the Mycena genus and a Favolaschia with honeycomb-like pores.
The decision to study fungi in Los Cedros was driven by its significant lack of research and the threat it faced from activities like mining, logging, and agriculture. The findings from the expeditions played a crucial role in protecting the reserve from mining concessions through a landmark ruling in 2021. This ruling highlighted the Ecuadorian court system’s recognition of Los Cedros’ value as a biodiversity reservoir.
The insights gained from studying Los Cedros can be applied to other habitats worldwide. Vandegrift emphasizes the importance of giving attention to all forests, whether protected or not. He believes that if more forests received similar attention, they would reveal incredible life forms.
Newman has collected additional specimens from different locations, showcasing the diversity of fungi. One set of images displays a rhododendron blight, a fungal pathogen that infects azaleas and rhododendrons, found in California’s Mendocino County. Another image provides a close-up view of the blight’s reproductive structures. Additionally, there is a photo of a fly agaric from Estacada, Oregon.
