Fungal ecologist Aishwarya Veerabahu stands beside a patch of golden oyster mushrooms growing on a stump in a Wisconsin forest. Photo courtesy of Aishwarya Veerabahu
(FOX 2) - An invasive species concern in Wisconsin drawing concerns from the Department of Natural Resources about Michigan's own infestation.
The golden oyster mushroom, often used as an ingredient in cooking, likely found its way into the wild through online kits one can purchase.
Big picture view:
New research findings from the U.S. Forest Service found an exotic mushroom currently spreading through multiple states in the Midwest was having a negative impact on other fungal species native to the region.
Typically found growing on Asian and Russian hardwood trees, the golden oyster mushroom is increasingly found on Michigan trees - a worrying development for forestry managers in the state.
The latest study focused on Wisconsin forests, but Michigan DNR officials are asking the public to keep an eye out for local infestations - and to avoid importing any more of the mushroom into the state.
It was published in the Current Biology journal.
A visualization of the spread of golden oyster mushrooms from 2016 to 2023. Photo courtesy of Aishwarya Veerabahu
Dig deeper:
Aishwarya Veerabahu, a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, found the invasive mushroom species could threaten fungal biodiversity, which is important to the health of a forest.
Fungi fulfill key roles within the environment, cycling nutrients through the ecosystem by feeding on dead tissues of plants and animals.
They can also hold carbon and reduce emissions from soil and wood. But these symbiotic relationships are threatened by the introduction of the golden oyster mushroom.
As of 2023, the mushroom had made its way to more than two dozen states and one province in Canada. It has been in Michigan since 2018.
Known for their bright yellow caps and nutty flavor, they are often found in cooking recipes.
UNSPECIFIED - NOVEMBER 06: Clump of Golden oyster mushroom (Pleurotus cornucopiae), Pleurotaceae. (Photo by DeAgostini/Getty Images)
What you can do:
Residents in Michigan are asked to report the mushroom using the iNaturalist.org website to record observations.
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The Michigan Department of Natural Resources is currently auctioning off land, including an island and other properties around the state.
The Source: The Michigan Department of Natural Resources and interviews on The Conversation website were used for this story.