About This Project

Grass Lake Research Natural Area, home to California’s largest peat-forming fen, is a rare montane ecosystem whose fungal communities remain poorly documented. This project will assess fungal diversity using soil sampling, macrofungal collections, vouchering, and DNA barcoding to establish a public repository of fungal community data. Without this knowledge, conservation and restoration efforts may overlook key aspects of peatland biodiversity.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Peat-forming wetlands are globally important ecosystems recognized for their role in hydrological regulation, long-term carbon sequestration and as biodiversity hotspots. In California's Sierra Nevada, peatlands cover an estimated 0.2% of the total land area, yet support a disproportionate amount of biodiversity. Research on montane peatlands has primarily focused on plants, hydrology, and carbon dynamics, while fungi remain largely overlooked. Although fungi are increasingly recognized as important ecological players in boreal and alpine peatlands, minimal baseline data exist for these systems in the Sierra Nevada. Therefore, documenting fungal communities is a critical first step toward understanding the holistic picture of Sierra Nevada peatland ecology and biodiversity, as well as promoting the long-term protection of these ecologically significant habitats.

What is the significance of this project?

Grass Lake, located near Lake Tahoe in the Sierra Nevada, is Californias largest peat-forming fen. The site supports high levels of biodiversity and numerous rare or unique species of plants. Wetlands in the Sierra Nevada can serve as carbon sinks, influence hydrology, and provide refuge for specialized flora and fauna, yet their fungal communities remain insufficiently documented. Fungi may play central roles in peatland ecology, mediating litter decomposition, structuring plant communities, and influencing nutrient cycling. Data on fungal diversity in California peatlands are lacking, limiting our ability to assess how the structure and function of these communities respond to disturbance, climate change, and altered hydrological regimes. This project will generate foundational knowledge of peatland fungal diversity, create publicly available resources, and highlight fungal taxa that may serve as indicators of peatland health, supporting restoration and management efforts.

What are the goals of the project?

The goal of this project is to document the fungal diversity of Grass Lake RNA through soil sampling and systematic surveys across its diverse microhabitats. From July to October, 2026, soil samples and sporocarps will be collected and sequenced. All macrofungal collections will be accessioned in the California State University East Bay (CSUEB) HAY Fungarium, and resulting data deposited in public repositories such as iNaturalist, GenBank, and UNITE. Beyond biodiversity documentation, the project aims to integrate fungi into broader frameworks for wetland ecology by highlighting their diversity, biogeography and ecological significance. Community engagement will be prioritized with collaboration from CSUEB, the Fungal Diversity Survey and community scientists to increase awareness of montane peatland fungal diversity, build long-term monitoring capacity and strengthen all taxa-inclusive conservation efforts for these rare and important reservoirs of biodiversity.