Citizen scientists and social media contribute to new fungal records for Tasmania

In February 2014, the comprehensive A Field Guide to Tasmanian Fungi (Gates & Ratkowsky 2014) hit the shelves of major bookshops around Tasmania. The demand was staggering and books left the shelves at an astonishing rate. At the same time, a public group on Facebook called Tasmanian Fungi with the focus (as set out in the guidelines of the page) being on the identification, ecology and appreciation of the fungi of Tasmania was established. The advent of excellent digital cameras (and even mobile phone cameras) has empowered most people interested in fungi to record their finds and subsequently post to the Facebook page for feedback.