Emily Johnson
Mushroom Observer is a website for recording observations about mushrooms, helping people identify mushrooms they aren't familiar with, and expanding the community around the scientific exploration of mushrooms (mycology). Users can upload their own mushroom observations, photos, and comments. The website is owned and operated by Mushroom Observer, Inc. and is intended to be a valuable resource for both amateur and professional mycologists. In 2010, the website contained about 53,000 user-submitted mushroom observations illustrated by 101,000 photographs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To record observations about mushrooms, help people identify mushrooms, and expand the community around the scientific exploration of mushrooms (mycology) |
| Users | Anyone can add their own mushroom observations, upload photos, and comment on other people's observations |
| Content | Observations are illustrated by photographs, descriptions, and comments |
| Features | Activity Log, Latest Changes, Observation Lists, Image Sharing, Maps, RSS feed |
| Governance | Owned and operated by Mushroom Observer, Inc. |
| Copyright | Users retain copyright of their images and can choose the conditions for commercial use |
| Source Code | Available on GitHub under the Open Source MIT License |
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What You'll Learn
Aims to record observations about mushrooms
The Mushroom Observer is a website with the primary aim of recording observations about mushrooms. It is a platform for people to record their mushroom-related findings, help identify mushrooms, and expand the community around the scientific exploration of mushrooms (mycology). The website is open to everyone, from amateur to professional mycologists, and even those who are new to mycology.
Users can upload their mushroom observations, photographs, and comments, as well as make additions and changes to existing observations. The website also allows users to track specific species or genera through email notifications whenever a particular name is given to an observation. Additionally, users can create new descriptions for a species, which will become the official description if none exists. These descriptions are initially only visible to members of the associated project and are editable by the description owner and project administrators.
The Mushroom Observer also provides three types of maps: Occurrence Maps, Location Maps, and the Global Map. These maps help users visualize the locations and occurrences of different mushroom species. The website encourages cooperative sharing, making all images available under a Creative Commons license or in the public domain. This allows future researchers to utilize the data freely and expand the understanding of mushrooms, while still protecting the copyright and commercial potential of the images.
The website also has a voting system to determine the names of observations. Votes are weighted, summed, and then divided by the number of votes for each name. The name with the highest score is applied throughout the site, taking into account synonyms and community consensus. Additionally, the votes of experts and those with a large contribution to Mushroom Observer carry slightly more weight. With these features, the Mushroom Observer aims to become a valuable resource and a collaborative field journal for anyone interested in mushrooms and mycology.
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Helps users identify mushrooms
Mushroom Observer is a website that helps users identify mushrooms. It is a platform for recording observations about mushrooms and aiding in the identification of unfamiliar mushroom species. The site aims to bridge the gap in mushroom identification by providing a space for users to discuss, record, and visually document their findings, while also connecting them to existing literature on the subject.
The Mushroom Observer website has a broad scope, encompassing not only large fleshy fungi but also other fungi like lichens, rusts, and molds, as well as fungus-like organisms such as slime molds. It is intended to be a valuable resource for both amateur and professional mycologists, serving as a collaborative field guide or journal for mushroom enthusiasts.
Users of Mushroom Observer can upload their own mushroom observations, photographs, and comments. These contributions are shared under Creative Commons licenses or placed in the public domain, allowing future researchers to utilise the data for expanding our understanding of mushrooms. The site also provides maps, such as Occurrence Maps and Location Maps, to aid in the documentation and identification of mushrooms.
The website employs a voting system to determine the names of mushroom observations. Votes are weighted, summed, and then divided by the total number of votes, with the winning name being applied throughout the site. In cases of synonyms, the community consensus is determined, and the owner's vote, along with those of experts and significant contributors, carries extra weight.
Additionally, Mushroom Observer offers the ability to track specific species or genera through email notifications. Users can request emails whenever a particular name is given to an observation, including at the genus or species level, allowing for timely updates on new observations within their area of interest. The site also provides an Activity Log and an RSS feed to help users stay informed about the latest changes and additions to the platform.
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Encourages scientific exploration of mushrooms
Mushroom Observer is a website that encourages the scientific exploration of mushrooms. It provides a platform for users to record and share their mushroom observations, helping to expand the knowledge of mushrooms beyond the scientific community. The site is owned and operated by Mushroom Observer, Inc.
The Mushroom Observer website has a broad focus on fleshy fungi, commonly known as mushrooms, but also includes other fungi such as lichens, rusts, and moulds, as well as fungus-like organisms like slime moulds. It is designed to be a collaborative platform where both amateur and professional mycologists can contribute and benefit from the shared knowledge.
Users can upload their mushroom observations, including photographs, and make comments on other people's observations. This sharing of information helps to address the gap in existing literature about mushrooms, as it is estimated that less than 5% of the world's fungi species are known to science. The site acts as a living field guide or a collaborative mushroom field journal, providing a valuable resource for anyone interested in mycology.
The website also incorporates cooperative sharing principles, ensuring that all images are available under a Creative Commons license or are in the public domain. This means that users grant permission for their images to be used by others under specific conditions, facilitating the use of this data in future research to expand our understanding of mushrooms. The site also includes special links on image pages to facilitate connections with those who wish to use the images for commercial purposes, ensuring proper attribution and potential monetary benefits for the copyright holders.
Mushroom Observer utilizes an "Activity Log" as its default page, where users can view the most recent changes and additions to the site. It lists new observations, observation lists, and significant changes to existing entries, including the addition of images and comments. Users can also track specific species or genera through email notifications, receiving updates whenever a new observation with that name is added. This feature ensures that users can stay up-to-date with the latest mushroom-related information shared on the platform.
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Allows users to upload mushroom photos
Mushroom Observer is a website that allows users to record observations about mushrooms, help identify mushrooms they are unfamiliar with, and expand the community around the scientific exploration of mushrooms (mycology). The website is intended to address the gap in mushroom identification and knowledge by creating a platform for users to discuss and record their findings, as well as connect to existing literature on mushrooms.
Users are encouraged to upload mushroom photos and make comments on other people's observations. This image-sharing feature follows the principles of cooperative sharing pioneered by the Free Software Foundation and the Open Source software movement. All images uploaded to the site are made available under a Creative Commons license or are placed in the public domain. This means that users grant explicit permission for others to use their images under certain conditions indefinitely. However, it is important to note that uploading images does not imply a relinquishment of copyright or the ability to monetise those images. Users can still require that anyone wishing to use the images for commercial purposes must obtain permission from the copyright holder and agree on the conditions for such use.
The website is designed to be inclusive, welcoming contributions from both amateur and professional mycologists. It serves as a living field guide or collaborative mushroom field journal, providing valuable resources for anyone interested in mushroom identification and exploration. The site also offers various tools to enhance the user experience, such as maps and an RSS feed to track the latest changes and observations.
In 2010, Mushroom Observer boasted approximately 53,000 user-submitted mushroom observations accompanied by 101,000 photographs, a significant increase from the 7,250 observations and 12,800 photos on the site in 2008. This growth reflects the website's success in engaging a community of mushroom enthusiasts and fostering scientific exploration.
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Provides a community for mycologists
Mushroom Observer is a website that provides a community for mycologists and mushroom enthusiasts to record and identify mushrooms. It is a platform for scientific exploration and collaboration, welcoming everyone from amateur to professional mycologists. The website has a broad scope, encompassing not only large fleshy fungi but also lichens, rusts, moulds, and fungus-like organisms such as slime moulds.
The Mushroom Observer website encourages users to share their mushroom observations, upload photos, and engage in discussions about mushrooms. In doing so, it bridges the gap between amateur enthusiasts and professional mycologists, fostering a community that contributes to the advancement of mycological knowledge. Users can add comments to observations, respond to existing comments, and create new descriptions for species.
One of the key features of Mushroom Observer is its collaborative nature. The website operates on the principles of cooperative sharing, with all images available under Creative Commons licenses or in the public domain. This allows users to utilise each other's images under specific conditions and facilitates the sharing of knowledge and resources within the mycology community. The website also includes special links on image pages to facilitate connections and encourage collaboration between users.
Mushroom Observer also serves as a valuable resource for identifying mushrooms. By aggregating user-submitted observations and photographs, it provides a comprehensive visual database of mushrooms. This database can be searched and explored using various tools and filters, making it easier for mycologists and enthusiasts to identify mushrooms they encounter in the wild. The website also connects users to existing literature and resources on mushrooms, further aiding in the identification process.
Additionally, Mushroom Observer employs a voting system to determine the names of mushrooms. Users can propose synonyms or vote on existing proposals, with the winning name being applied throughout the site. This community-driven approach helps establish consensus and standardise mushroom nomenclature, benefiting mycologists and enthusiasts alike. The website also offers features such as email notifications when a particular name or species is observed, enhancing the ability to track and study specific mushrooms.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushroom Observer is a website for recording observations about mushrooms, helping people identify mushrooms they aren't familiar with, and expanding the community around the scientific exploration of mushrooms (mycology).
Mushroom Observer is a community-driven platform that welcomes everyone, from amateur to professional mycologists. Users can add their own mushroom observations, upload photos, and comment on other people's observations.
Mushroom Observer allows users to submit observations, photos, and comments about mushrooms. The site also includes maps, such as occurrence maps and location maps, to help users find and identify mushrooms in specific locations. Users can also track changes to observations, names, and images through the "Activity Log" or "Latest Changes" page.
