The wealth of mushrooms from the Serra de Monchique, many of them wildly exploited for sale, others practically unknown, motivates, on the weekend of December 13th and 14th, the first edition of BioBlitz Micológico da Serra de Monchique and FotoBlitz “A Mycological Biodiversity of the Serra de Monchique”.
This initiative, organized by the Municipality of Monchique, in partnership with the University of Évora – Department of Landscape, Environment and Planning and by Aspaflobal, also has the support of the Regional Directorate of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Algarve, of the Department of Nature Conservation and Florestas do Algarve, from GUME – Évora University Mycology Group and Monchique School Group.
The objective is to find and photograph as many mushroom species as possible in specific habitats of the Serra de Monchique, working as a biological inventory.
And what is a Bioblitz? A scientific inventory is usually limited to biologists and other researchers. At BioBlitz, everyone, whether or not specialists or connoisseurs, is invited to discover and inventory the biodiversity of a particular area, in this case the wild mushrooms of the Monchique mountains.
The organization intends to know the species of mushrooms existing in this mountain, through photography and collection of specimens found during the 13th of December.
The collection will take place simultaneously in different habitats, for example in cork oaks, oak groves, candlesticks, Mediterranean scrub or eucalyptus, and the specimens collected and photographed will then be identified in a room, with the support of specialist mycologists and using appropriate identification tools.
This is a unique opportunity to contribute to increasing the list of already identified species of mushrooms, to work with the scientific community and to get to know better the mycological resources of this area.
This activity will contribute to the realization of a pre-inventory of wild mushrooms existing in this area, with the information collected being used in the preparation of the future Mycological Guide to the Serra de Monchique.
In parallel, there will be FotoBlitz, a digital photography competition on the theme “The Mycological Biodiversity of the Serra de Monchique”. Participants qualify for the following prizes:
– 1st Prize, Best Set of 4 Mushrooms – €400;
– 2nd Prize, Best Copy – €100;
– 3rd Prize, Best Photography – 50€.
Participants need to bring equipment that allows them to photograph the specimens collected in the field.
In order to facilitate the identification of the collected specimens, four photographs should be taken of each specimen showing the habitat, the hat, the foot and the hymenophore (bottom of the hat).
A collection kit and a manual of good practices for the collection of wild mushrooms will also be provided.
The organization offers two snacks: a picnic during the activity and a convivial snack at the end of the day.
Transport to the collection point is provided by the organization.
Enrollments are free and take place until December 11, via the email [email protected] or telephones 282 910 210/218.
Program
Day 13
– 9:00 am – Official opening session
Framework of the methodology to be used in the work of collecting wild mushrooms. Formation of identification groups and distribution of the collection kit.
– 10:30 am – Sampling and collection period ,, accompanied by an element of the organization. The sampling takes place in the Serra de Monchique in representative habitats of the existing biodiversity.
– 14:30 pm – Departure from the sampling/collection and transport location to the location of identification of the collected specimens.
– 15:30 pm – Period for identifying specimens collected with the support of invited mycologists.
– 17:30 pm – Social snack.
Day 14
– 09:30 am – Mushroom identification workshop
– 12:30 pm – Closing ceremony, with the presentation of the preliminary results of the inventory carried out.
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