Use of eDNA Analysis in the Conservation of Grassland Fungi

By identifying where rare fungi are present via eDNA, AU researchers have been successful in deploying targeted fruitbody surveying to subsequently locate these species. Six additional species were located at The Leasowes site in Birmingham, which has over 150,000 visitors a year, enhancing the species count at the site by 20%. This was instrumental in the notification of The Leasowes SSSI, which will be the first global instance of eDNA being used in the legal protection of a site of conservation concern. The technique targets the areas for field mycologists, saving time and financial cost. The eDNA work at The Leasowes has highlighted the potential for the use of this technology in conservation. AU researchers have subsequently been commissioned to write a number of other eDNA site reports by Natural England and Natural Resources Wales.

The research team have undertaken work for land developers (at the request of local planning officers/ council ecologists) seeking to ascertain whether land proposed for development has conservation value in terms of the fungi present. The primary benefit to the developer is that a decision can be obtained rapidly and at any time of year. In the four cases undertaken to date (Greenacres, Crumlin, Purton Road and Dolygaer), apparently promising grassland sites were subject to eDNA analysis. In three cases, grassland fungal populations of only moderate diversity were identified, and the developments were granted permission to continue. However, in the fourth case (Purton Road, Swindon), planning was refused, in part due to our discovery of the presence of two waxcap species present on the IUCN’s Red List, including Hygrocybe Citrinovirens.

The team are continuing to work with SES Ltd at the former Severalls Hospital site redevelopment in Essex using eDNA to determine whether waxcap populations can survive such translocations.

The research team have also used the method to provide land use assessment to the Welsh Government EIA unit in the prosecution of landowners who change use of land, for example through ploughing of permanent pasture without necessary permission.

The research team interact extensively with citizen scientists. The team supply specimens of rare fungi which the citizen scientists use as reference specimens to improve their eDNA metabarcoding databases. They have provided training for groups of citizen scientists, notably Pembrokeshire Fungus Recording Network, to allow them to set up their own DNA barcoding labs, in association with Bentolab and The Lost and Found Fungi Project by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. This collaboration has led to the publication of taxonomic keys supplied free-of-charge to field mycologists.

Contributions to TV programmes, the recent Plantlife app WaxcApp used at 362 sites throughout the UK and the Isle of Man, and a short film about the novel eDNA methodology have also helped to raise the public profile of grassland fungi.