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Entoloma cuboideum

Choose a Platform



For this project, we ask you to select one of two platforms to upload your photos and other data:
iNaturalist (aka iNat) or Mushroom Observer (aka MO). Both platforms allow you to document the fungi you have found and share them with FunDiS and mycophiles (mushroom lovers) worldwide. We encourage you to try out both platforms and see which one you are most comfortable working with. Each has areas where they excel, and areas that could use improvements. Both are free to use. (See notes on other platforms below.)

Post on iNaturalist (iNat)

Pros

    • Has a mobile app with Artificial Intelligence for both iPhones and Androids
    • Uploading photos is easier on iNat
    • Better for group projects and forays because of mobile app

Cons

    • Data quality and verification is more limited (fewer experts monitoring)
    • Maximum image size is limited
    • Difficult to export data for sequencing or fungaria submission

 

Post on Mushroom Observer (MO)

Pros

    • Has a larger community of active expert identifiers
    • Can upload higher resolution images, and more photos
    • Advanced features specific to mycology

Cons

    • No mobile app
    • Bulk uploading is not straightforward

 

Facebook, Instagram, Flickr, Reddit, etc.

 They are fun but do not provide a searchable scientific record!

  • The main difference between iNat and MO, on the one hand, and Facebook, Instagram, Flicker, Reddit, etc, on the other hand, is that the former are data-based (so searchable) and the latter are not. Therefore, iNat and MO have far more value to science. As a citizen science project, FunDiS can only utilize observations posted to iNat or MO.

  • However, Facebook has specialist groups for many groups of fungi that attract excellent identifiers; the social interaction is enjoyable; and it is the easiest platform to use to upload a group of photos.
    • If you want the benefits of Facebook while contributing to science, post first on iNat or MO and then post to the appropriate Facebook group with a link to the permanent iNat or MO observation.

 

MyCoPortal

    • MyCoPortal is a site that accumulates records from curated fungaia around North America. In fact, FunDiS observations will be posted to MyCoPortal after vouchers have been accessioned by fungaria. MyCoPortal does not have community feedback like iNat and MO, and FunDiS is not set up to track sequencing of observations posted first to MyCoPortal. 



About Fungal Diversity Survey

FunDiS is dedicated to a world in which the fungal kingdom is fully documented, understood, appreciated and protected.

Fungal Diversity Survey
10385 Green Meadow Rd
Sebastopol, CA 95472