Mycota Lab

One of the many tools on our Research Node is the Foray Tracker. After your outing and you have uploaded your observations to iNaturalist, you can review the stats from your walk - length of time and distance, observation & species summaries, average speed, and calories burned. You can also pull in your historic data to see this from any past walk. Just meant to be a fun little app to check from time to time.

https://mycomap.org/fitness-tracker

Will be working to get the word out over the coming months about our first conservation initiative - the residential Certified Fungal Habitat program. Check it out and let me know any comments you may have to improve the program. Help me to start raising awareness by sharing.

https://mycomap.org/habitat

If you’ve enjoyed following our work documenting new mushroom species over the last decade, we could now use your help.
Funding has always been the biggest bottleneck in expanding our nonprofit mission. Up until now, I haven't made direct appeals for donations because I wanted to ensure you got something of real substance in return for your support.

That finally exists today with the launch of the new MycoMap.org.
When you become a member, you get full access to the Research Node - real-time foraging maps, custom field guides, the Foray Tracker, instant access to novel species as they are documented, and much more. It also opens up our lab services for you to submit DNA barcoding specimens from anywhere in the world.

More importantly, your membership pays for the hard costs associated with running a nonprofit lab. It subsidizes free sequencing for under-funded regions, keeps the Continental MycoBlitz free, and pushes forward new eDNA research.

Ten years ago, we started building the MycoMap platform to DNA barcode fungi at scale. Fast forward to today, and together with over 2,000 of you, we’ve barcoded well over 100,000 specimens. iNaturalist is now natively using the temp code naming system, and we are actively building the MYCO into one of the largest fungaria in North America.

If we are going to keep growing and build a true funga of North America, we need your support. Check out the new site and please consider becoming a member today. And even if you don't need the foraging tools yourself, friends and family are always welcome to join simply to support our mission. Crowdsourcing seems to be one of the last best options to work towards sustainable and predictable funding for our work. Your support can make this possible. Expect much more to come in the coming weeks/months/years.

Please share to pass the word along about our latest efforts.

www.MycoMap.org

The MycoMap Network DNA-validated macrofungi observations platform with geospatial, temporal, and taxonomic analytics from iNaturalist and Mushroom Observer

Mycota was endorsed to publish on GBIF today.

Mycota Mycota is a 501c3 molecular DNA laboratory based just outside of Ann Arbor, Michigan. The lab is dedicated to advancing mycological research through DNA barcoding and citizen science. Our team of researchers and volunteers work together to document and understand fungal biodiversity across North Ame...

The Winter Continental MycoBlitz is coming up January 2 - 19, 2026. Open call for collections from anywhere in North America.

Please print slips with a QR code for future submissions. Two options: they can be revised MycoMap field data slips (which now have a QR code; must ensure the Voucher Number(s) field on iNat has the number entered and formatted correctly) or you can use Alan's specimen labels that link directly to the iNat URL. Either option is fine as long as we can scan specimens in at the lab.

iNat Project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/winter-continental-mycoblitz-2026
Field Data Slips: https://mycomap.com/events/event-slips?event=158
Specimen Labels: https://images.mushroomobserver.org/labels
MycoBlitz Site: www.MycoBlitz.org

Some additional notes:

Preference is to have snack bags (6 1/2" wide versions) without the plastic slide zipper.
Please include the field data slips or specimen labels in the bag with the QR code visible from the outside.
It is fine to put all of your collections into a final gallon-size ziplock (preferred).
It is very helpful to put your specimens in order by Voucher Number (either CM26 or personal numbers).
Please ensure this CMXX- number is on each iNaturalist observation in the "Voucher Number(s)" observation field (if using field data slips).
No need to write a duplicate iNat number on exterior if QR code is visible on the specimen label from outside of the bag.
There is no need to include silica gel packets in the bags. The specimen should be fully dried before shipment.
There is no need to wrap specimens in paper, foil, or otherwise double bag individual collections.
Please do not staple the field slip to the bag. Place it in the bag.
Please trim the field data slips down if you only printed one per page.
Ensure each slip has a unique number. Do not print multiple copies of the same slip number.
Please ensure your specimens do not have any excess dirt or debris in the bag.

A great update on initial progress from the MycoMap BC project from Elora. Great progress in a short amount of time!

MycoMap BC Updates and Feedback Session December 2025 Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

The 2026 MycoMap Network will also be including Alberta. Had an initial meeting with the key players recently and it should be a great addition. Anyone in the province can submit specimens for free DNA sequencing as a part of this project.

www.MycoMap.org

Working to finish up our first culture-based exploration of fungal biodiversity in soil.

The MycoMap Network will continue to expand the DNA barcoding efforts in 2026. New locations for free, unlimited sequencing for modern specimens will include:

Louisiana
New Hampshire
Maine
Mississippi
Vermont

Considering one more addition, but this is the current lineup for 2026. www.MycoMap.org

https://open.substack.com/pub/mycotalab/p/faq-temporary-code-names-for-macrofungi

2025 Summer Continental MycoBlitz - Still a ways to go if we are to keep pace with previous events. Still lots of amazing things being found, however.

https://www.facebook.com/events/1947095982792693/
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/continental-mycoblitz