How are changes in distribution patterns of lichens and bryophytes over time correlated with man-made environmental changes?

How accurately can we predict where specific species can be found using existing herbarium data?

16 digitization centers (collaborators)

> 60 non-governmental US herbaria (95%)

~ 2.3 million specimens (90%)▪ 900,000 lichens▪ 1.4 million bryophytes

Mobilizing existing digital records

The focus of the project is specimens from Mexico, the U.S. and Canada

Volunteers will edit and complete label data transcription

Volunteer training program Local workshops, field courses, seminars, training Online training, Q/A, seminars, presentations

National Portals (Symbiota)

http://symbiota.org/nalichens/ http://symbiota.org/bryophytes/

Search across collections Map distributions Create checklists, descriptions and keys

Project Websitehttp://lbcc.limnology.wisc.edu/

Unlocking a Biodiversity Resource for Understanding Biotic Interactions, Nutrient Cycling and Human Affairs

Is fungal biodiversity significantly underestimated?

To what extent does the distribution of macrofungi affect the distribution of other organisms with which they form associations?

Will phenological patterns of macrofungal sporocarp production will be altered with climate change?

Can we use herbarium records to track fungal species of interest or concern for ecosystems and human welfare (e.g., invasive, pathogenic species?

Data to be digitized:•700,000 specimen records (combined with 600,000 previously digitized specimens for a total of 1.3 million)

•70,000 specimen images

•144,260 photographs of living fungi (represented in specimen collections)

•26,092 fieldbook pages

•355,220 field notes, spore prints

Participating Institutions:Create preliminary recordsImage

Specimen labels Selected specimens Photographs and drawings Field notes, field books

Create field book records

Record Creation Center (NYBG)Provides training and supportCompletes records

Volunteers:Complete, edit and augment data

Citizen mycologists conduct public outreach about fungi--forays, fungus fairs, lectures, poison control

--document local mycota through publications, websitesand herbaria

For the MaCC project, mycologists will:--serve on project advisory board--help design and use crowdsourcing application--use Portal functions to document, share work

Two workshops for high school Biology teachers

Involve university-level student workforce in social media projects relating to the project, and fund their participation in scientific meetings