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ER 390, RNS Diploma, University of Victoria
Mycorestoration When mycology meets restoration
Maryanna Kenney 6/11/2013
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………………………………………………3
Abstract…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..4
1.0 Objective……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………5 2.0 Introduction……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6
2.1 Ecological Restoration……………………………………………………………………………………..7 2.2 Mycorestoration……………………………………………………………………………………………..8 2.3 Kingdom Fungi…………………………………………………………………………………………………9 2.4 Fungi & Plants………………………………………………………………………………………………..12
3.0 Site Assessment…………………………………………………………………………………………………………12 3.1 Current Issues…………………………………………………………………………………………………13
3.1.1 Hydrology………………………………………………………………………………………13 3.1.2 Soil Disturbance…………………………………………………………………………….13
3.2 Mycological Assessment…………………………………………………………….....................14 3.3 Site Selection………………………………………………………………………………………………….15
4.0 Methods…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….16 4.1 Restoration……………………………………………………………………………………………………..19 4.2 Sources of Mycelium……………………………………………………………………………………….20 4.3 Other Restoration Applications……………………………………………………………………….21
5.0 Results……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….22 6.0 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….24
References……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….26
Appendix 1: Copy of Lab Results for Site 1
Appendix 2: Map of Mycofiltration Sites
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Acknowledgements
Many incredible teachers and influences have led me to ecological restoration. Our time on earth is limited and I am grateful that I have been given the opportunity to understand and help heal degraded ecosystems. It is a privilege.
The Restoration of Natural Systems Diploma at the University of Victoria provided me with a holistic understanding of ecological restoration and was the impetus for this project. I gained knowledge from professors, colleagues, academic literature and tangible examples of restoration projects. Many thanks to Dr. Val Schaefer for his support, feedback and lessons in ecological restoration. He bridges the gap between ecological systems and human culture, and ensures that academia is applicable and beneficial to the broader community. The University of Victoria Sustainability Project (UVSP) supported this initiative through their student grant program. A heartfelt thanks to the members of the UVSP; students supporting students through environmental projects. June Pretzer and Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary made this mycological adventure possible by providing the project site and subsequent opportunities for future projects. Thanks goes out to Tayler Krawcyk for exposing me to "Mycelium Running" and the world of permaculture, where earth care and people care collide. Paul Stamets, author of “Mycelium Running” has spent 30 or more years studying fungi and his passion for mycorestoration is contagious. Stamets and his Fungi Perfecti team shared their expertise and answered many of my inquiries over a 4 day mycology course in October 2012. In April 2013, Peter McKoy instructed a valuable and practical course on mushroom cultivation which will benefit future mycorestoration projects. Last, but not least, a special thanks to Andrew Poirier for his patience and encouragement through-‐out the final stages of the project.
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Abstract
The literary research, mycological assessment and restoration of Swan Lake/ Christmas Hill Nature Sanctuary (SLCHNS) were conducted for over a year commencing in May 2013 in Saanich, British Columbia. Swan Lake and the surrounding riparian and terrestrial ecosystem include 48 ha of streams, urban forest, woody shrubs and grassland. The watershed northeast of Swan Lake drains from the lake into the Colquitz River on its journey south to merge with the Pacific Ocean at the Victoria Harbour. Swan Lake is an urban hotspot for biodiversity providing habitat for numerous species of plants and animals. The urban area surrounding Swan Lake is largely impervious resulting in increased levels of sediments, nutrients, and toxic chemicals. The intent of this study was to transform soil and water contaminants at SLCHNS with the help of strategically placed saprophytic fungi. Saprophytes are on nature’s clean-‐up crew, connecting life and death by playing a significant role in digesting plant matter and other hydrocarbon bonds, similar in structure. This project required eleven mycofilters which were developed by inoculating Alnus rubra substrate with Pleurotus ostreatus in sterilized burlap sacks. Two trial sites (one aquatic and one terrestrial) were determined following a comprehensive site assessment that identified the areas with the greatest need for mycological restoration. The results of this study reveal that there are a myriad of reasons that may impact the fungi’s ability to establish itself in the field. Issues can arise due to inadequate timing or moisture, contaminated substrate or inoculum, and competition with bacteria or other established fungi. Although the Pleurotus ostreatus species is very vigorous and adaptive, a new strategy could consist of spawn generated by fruiting bodies collected on site which would be more robust and locally adapted. This initial exploration of mycological restoration at SLCHNS will provide important insights and guidance for future projects within this field.
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1.0 Objective
Mycology holds the key to many of our ecological challenges, and the realization of this
potential requires human comprehension and action. The intent of this study was to increase
my mycological knowledge and ability to utilize fungi for restoration purposes. This project will
integrate fungal biotechnology and environmental engineering as a means to restore two
contaminate sites at SLCHNS in Saanich, British Columbia.
Mycologist, Paul Stamets on Cortez Island, teaching students about fungal diversity in October 2012.
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2.0 Introduction
The Restoration of Natural Systems (RNS) Diploma at the University of Victoria requires
participating students to conduct a final restoration project (ER 390) of their choice in the
community. Through-‐out the RNS Diploma, students are exposed to a vast range of restoration
techniques and the final project is designed to take students out of the classroom and apply a
chosen theory. I am fascinated by fungi and the way in which they connect, contribute to and
cycle life. One could say that the conversations and lessons learned through-‐out the RNS
diploma is the mycelium network that led me to do my final project on mycorestoraiton.
2.1 Ecological Restoration
Ecological Restoration is a scientific discipline that has emerged due to the increasing
need to restore damaged ecosystems (Val Schaefer, personal communication). For most of
human history, nature has had the upper hand; and people were forced to live at the mercy of
storms, droughts, famines, diseases and other natural phenomena (Merchant 1990). Attitudes
of domination stemming from the Scientific Revolution have enabled humans to threaten all
other forms of life at the expense of improving our “quality” of life through quantifiable things.
Natural habitats throughout the world have been modified as a result of the current economic
paradigm. When a business creates a product from a raw resource, they reap the profits from
selling the product but do not compensate for the consequences such as habitat destruction,
emissions from transport, or waste products created during processing and again when
packaging. These factors combined with the resulting increase in the number of threatened
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and endangered species have raised concerns about diminishing biodiversity. Ecosystem
restoration work is real living work that creates long-‐term benefits that may be difficult to
quantify under prevailing economic systems. Given that costs to restore an ecosystem are
often a barrier, it is important to acknowledge that the root of the problem is how we define
the value of healthy / functioning ecosystems.
Ecological restoration is more than removing unwanted conditions (i.e. invasive species);
it is also about adding or enhancing desired conditions while keeping past land use in mind.
The goal is to achieve sustainable, resilient and interconnected ecosystems married with socio-‐
ecological systems (Cairns 1988). In most cases we are aiming to recover pre-‐European
biodiversity, and even this reference point is subjective. The earliest attempts at restoration
simply aimed to establish self-‐sustaining vegetation cover on sites that had been degraded by
mining and other activities (Ruiz-‐Jaen & Mitchell Aide 2005). More recently, practitioners have
attempted to create functional replicates of target communities of conservation importance in
areas damaged by intensive agricultural management (Pywell & Putwain 1997). Successful
ecosystem restoration requires a fundamental understanding of the ecological characteristics
of the component species, together with knowledge of how they assemble, interact and
function as communities (Ruiz-‐Jaen & Mitchell Aide 2005). The human desire to control nature
may create tension between expectations and outcomes when planning restoration projects.
Yet, restoration is a highly complex and subjective activity that is not like a cookbook recipe.
Restoration techniques need to be modified accordingly to a site’s unique attributes and history.
As this movement builds momentum, additional restoration case studies will provide a crucial
test for embedded ecological models and theories. Through active involvement in real world,
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large-‐scale projects, these insights can generate new information and stimulate new
models (Aronson 2005).
Ecological restoration practitioners have been looking for ways to deal with the influx of
toxins contaminating terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. The best solutions are usually those
that mimic natural processes and have stood the test of time. Beneath the soil exists a very
discrete but important resource that is frequently overlooked when considering ways to restore
a degraded site. It has been said that soil is the building block of life, but what is the building
block of soil?
2.2 Mycorestoration
Soil is a habitat of high fungal diversity. Mycologists have identified 70 000 fungi,
however it is estimated that there are 1.5 million fungi on earth (Blackwell 2011). The Kingdom
Fungi performs critical roles in the decomposition and recycling of organic compounds which
builds soil (Stamets 2005). This paper will explore how fungi are key players in restoring
ecosystems, a concept known as mycorestoration.
A major area of environmental concern is the bio-‐degradation of toxic wastes. Nature
has been utilizing fungi and bacteria for the degradation of xenobiotic organic compounds since
they were first introduced during the industrial revolution (Singh 2006). Xenobiotic compounds
include most pollutants that are foreign to living biota. We have a simplistic view of the
interrelationships between synthesized chemicals and natural processes. The conventional
thinking is that we can control our environment by removing the chemicals and concentrating
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them in a contained site or dispersing them through incineration. In either situation, the
problem is not resolved, just merely rearranged. As we advance towards a whole systems
approach to sustainability, we can incorporate other methodologies into restoration projects.
Although many great mycologists preceded Paul Stamets, he combined their findings along with
his own and gave the term mycorestoration dictionary meaning. Mycorestoration utilizes the
power of fungi to transform toxic wastes and assist ecosystem recovery post-‐disturbance
(Stamets 2005).
2.3 Kingdom Fungi
Fungi are integral to every life cycle. The oldest plant fossils have a fungal symbiotic
relationship and the largest organism on earth is the Armillaria ostoyae (Honey Mushroom)
(Stamets 2012, personal communication). Members of the Kingdom Fungi are versatile and
resilient organisms that contribute to ecosystems integrity. Fungi have body structures and
modes of reproduction unlike those of any other organism (Stamets 2005). The obvious part of
the fungal life cycle is when they fruit into mushrooms in order to distribute spores. Spores
spread fungi to new ecological niches and are essential in the recombination of genetic material.
They travel significant distances by air, water, insects or other mobile creatures and create
meta-‐populations of mycelium as far as a kilometer away from the parent population (Blackwell
2011). The Oyster mushroom has been reported to convert fifty percent of their mass into
spores (Stamets 2005).
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Honey (Parasitic) and Oyster (Saprophytic) Mushrooms on Cortez Island, October 2012.
As chemoorganotrophs, fungi have simple nutritional requirements and can grow at
environmental extremes of low pH or high temperatures (Singh 2006). Fungi are also
heterotrophs like animals, but they absorb food instead of ingesting it. Their extracellular
enzymes acquire small nutrient molecules externally (Harms 2006). A typical fungus consists of
threadlike filaments called hyphae. The finely branched filaments of the fungus provide an
extensive surface area for absorption of water and minerals from the soil. These hyphae
branch repeatedly, forming a feeding and communication network known as mycelium (Nara
2006). Fungal networks of threads expand outwards seeking new territory, new partnerships
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with plants or new patches of organic matter. These networks absorb phosphorus from its
surroundings and relocate it over great distances. When the mycelium has completed its
lifecycle as a mushroom, the phosphorous is released. Fungal decomposing bacterium enters
the scene and helps deposit the phosphorus back into the soil, as well as other essential
minerals like zinc and potassium (Stamets 2005).
Mushroom mycelium is the invisible body of the mushroom, just like the body is the
temple for the soul. The most common type of mycelium is what we see as mold growing on an
aged lemon. The mushrooms we find on the lawn or in a forest are the fruit of the mycelium
network that forms associations with trees and other plants. Most of the essential functions of
fungi in ecosystems happen underground. Fungi cannot run or fly in search of food, but their
mycelium make up for their lack of mobility. Mycelium of many species of mushrooms will
create rhizomorphs that closely resemble plant roots. If you imagine millions of these finely
braided roots, overlapping and completing an entire network in search of food, water and
nutrition, you can see the possibility of this model serving as a biological filter.
Fungi, regardless of what stage they are in their lifecycle, are often categorized by how
they acquire sustenance. The focus of this research is on saprophytic fungi, which depend on
plant and animal remains for their nutrition. Saprophytic fungi are primary decomposers and
will inhabit and break down dead wood and other organic material. The process used by the
fungi to break down the hydro-‐carbons in wood, gives mushroom mycelia the ability to break
down various other pathogenic micro-‐organisms as well (Matsubara 2005). The saprophytes’
secrete acids and enzymes which possess the biochemical and ecological capacity to degrade
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environmental organic chemicals and to decrease the risk associated with heavy metals by
chemical modification or by influencing chemical bioavailability (Humar 2003).
2.4 Fungi & Plants
The mycorihzal fungi found on the root tips of plants are evident on some of the oldest
plant fossils and are a key adaptation that makes it possible for plants to live on land (Stamets
2005). As such, the mycelium network is a key component of functioning vegetation
communities. Fungi facilitate beneficial partnerships by helping the plant retain moisture and
food in exchange for sugars and other organic by-‐products of the plant’s photosynthesis
(Blackwell 2011). The economic and ecological benefits of inoculating plant roots with
mycorrhizal fungi are currently being studied in re-‐forestation projects (Stamets 2005).
3.0 Site Assessment
This project was executed at SLCHNS within the District of Saanich in British Columbia.
SLCHNS is located the Coastal Douglas Fir (CDF) biogeoclimatic zone at 48 °27’ 35’’N 123°
22’30’’W (Jungen and Ag, 1985). Historically, the SLCHNS site was used as a dumping ground
for raw sewage, a winery and cattle farm (Swan Lake 2012).
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3.1 Current Issues
3.1.1 Hydrology
There is a marshy lowland area that is the recipient of precipitation flowing over
impervious surfaces such as roads, roofs, or sidewalks. When water is unable to infiltrate these
mediums, it carries with it motor-‐oil, antifreeze, herbicides and any substance light enough to
flow over private and public properties. Storm water collects this urban concoction of
chemicals and transports it to underground pipes, which drains into Swan Lake impacting native
fish and oxygen levels. The lowland marsh functions like a sponge due to the extensive root
mass of wetland plants that extract contaminants and nutrients from water. This natural
cleaning process removes particles of sediment and metals as the water percolates through
wetland soils.
3.1.2 Soil Disturbance
Given that the site at Swan Lake was historically a refuse dump covered with soil,
contaminants leaching into soil is a concern. Additionally, the pre-‐existing mycelium network
would have been greatly disturbed. The soil was noticeably compacted from urban run-‐off and
trail use by humans and pets.
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3.2 Mycological Assessment
During the summer and early fall of 2012, fruiting bodies of fungi (mushrooms) were
sought out at SLCHNS and identified using “Mushrooms of the Pacific Northwest” by Steve
Trudell and Joe Amaratti. Fruiting bodies of mushrooms were closely examined and identified in
order to get acquainted with the local fungal diversity. I revisited the site countless times to
enhance my mycological identification skills. The summer and fall of 2012 were exceptionally
dry and unfavourable for fungal reproductions which made this task even more challenging.
The white rot fungus, Pleurotus ostreatus, was chosen to be the bioremediation agent in
the mycofilters following this assessment. White rot fungi decompose the lignin and or
cellulose in the substrate material, which lightens the substrate appearance (Matsubara 2006).
Pleurotus ostreatus is a known dissembler of biomass that can consume a wide variety of
substrates including chippings, grass clippings, manures and mulches of wood chips, and straw.
The substrate is any material that the mushroom consumes as a food source (Stamets
2005). Alnus rubra (Alder) wood chips were the chosen substrate in this trial because they are
an early successional tree species that is quick to decompose.
In demonstrated laboratory trials, the web like tissue of Pleurotus ostreatus mycelia has
successfully targeted E. coli bacteria, PAH's, PCB's, dioxins, and some heavy metals (Stamets
2005). Scientific literature suggests that other chemicals such as herbicides, phenols, and dyes
may be broken down in the same way (Rogers 2012).
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Field Guide utilized to identify fungal species at SLCHNS
3.3 Site Selection
During the site assessment two microfiltration trial sites were determined. Site 1 was
located in the storm drain adjacent to Saanich municipal hall parking lot, near the Swan Lake
trail entrance. The rationale for this location was to stop water borne toxins carried by urban
run-‐off from reaching Swan Lake.
Site 2 is along the walking path, halfway down an east facing slope. This area has
noticeable orange sludge that is seeping from the earth below. Given that this area was
historically used for industrial refuse, it is assumed that this sludge remains from old scrap
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metal that had been covered with soil. In order to effectively restore a landscape, it is
important to consider where, when and how the affluent affects the topography.
4.0 Methods
Mycofilters capture and metabolize pathogens by utilizing the cellular web of
mushroom mycelia to digest organic debris and toxins by secreting antibacterial metabolites
(Stamets 2005). The procedure to make mycofilters starts with generating Pleurotus
ostreatus sawdust spawn starts with a heat treatment of a media matrix consisting of
debarked Alnus rubra sawdust. The heat treatment process is achieved at a base minimum
internal temperature of 99 degrees Celsius at 15 psi for a minimum of one hour. After one hour,
it is cooled in front of a HEPA filtered laminar flow hood and the bags are inoculated with the
mushroom mycelium of Pleurotus ostreatus and heat sealed. Each bag is then incubated for 7
days, after which the product is inspected to ensure foreign pathogens have not contaminated
the product.
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Sterile lab for sawdust spawn production.
The sawdust spawn of Pleurotus ostreatus was mixed with five parts Alder wood chips in
sterilized burlap sacks. The sacks were stored outside in a shaded location with a daily
temperature range between 8 and 14 degrees Celsius for four weeks in October 2012. The bags
were checked every five days to monitor the degree to which the substrate was colonized.
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TABLE 1. Materials & Costs
Item Source Quantity Cost Total Cost
Sawdust Spawn-‐Pleurotus ostreatus
Fungi Perfecti 10 $37.00 $370.00
Burlap Sacks Castle Building Victoria, BC
10 $2.00 $25.00
Alder Woodchips (smoked for cooking)
Canadian Tire Saanich, BC
14 bags $5.99 $93.92
Mixed Woodchips M.B. Labs ltd. Saanich, BC
10 kg In Kind, Chris Dyziak $0.00
Baseline Water Tests M.B. Labs ltd. Sydney, BC
1 In Kind, Saanich Waterworks
$0.00
Mycofilter Water Tests M.B. Labs ltd. Sydney, BC
1 $120.00 $120.00
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Inoculated burlap sacks, ready to be sealed and placed at the terrestrial trial site (2).
4.1 Restoration
At Site 1, I observed the storm drain during 3 different rain events before the mycofilter
installation stones were strategically placed in order to slow the velocity of water in the stream.
The mycofilters were placed in the path of the water, allowing the water to flow through and
over the filter. The flow strength of the water is an important consideration when determining
how high to make the filters. A 30 cm layer of wood chips can be placed over the mycofilters to
avoid rapid evaporation and to ensure the health of the delicate mycelia (Stamets 2005). I
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decided not to add another layer of wood chips because the water’s high velocity during the
observed rain events. In other documented field trials, the mushroom mycelia would inhabit
the wood chips after three months, and after 1 year would have completely colonized the base
of the mycofilter to wood chip top layer. A healthy mycofilter can be active for up to three
years, although the filter shrinks significantly as the mushroom mycelia ingests the organic
matter. Even after three months, I noticed quite a bit of shrinkage with the Swan Lake
mycofilters. One way to replenish food for the mycelia is to add another burlap sack filled with
wood chips and stake this in place so that it does not gush downstream during storms. Once
the mycelium is no longer active, the by-‐products remaining in the burlap sacks can be used as
humus rich compost.
Sawdust may have been difficult for the mycelium to digest quickly, so in following trials
I will supplement them with some source of protein such as rice, wheat, oat bran, barley from
breweries; vegetable oil and stale bread. The extra nutrients will help contaminants grow
quickly so the sterilization time will need to be doubled. Enriched sawdust would include: 45 kg
of sawdust, 22 kg of wood chips, 18 kg of bran, and 3 kg of gypsum, moistened to 60% water
and then sterilized (Stamets 2005).
4.2 Other Sources of Mycelium
• Stem butts (wild or store bought)
• Plugs (commercially available spiral grooved birch dowels) can be expanded or used as
spawn.
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• Spawn starts
• Spores, spore syringes (for restoration purposes spores should be collected from local
sources).
o Add spores or a piece of mushrooms tissue to nitrified agar in a petri dish. Over
1-‐3 weeks the dish will become covered in mycelium. A piece of this mycelium is
then cut out and introduced to a substrate (i.e. sterilized grains like rye). This
produces bulk mycelium, referred to as spawn. A final substrate is then heat
pasteurized to kill competitors. Sterilization uses a significant amount of fuel
and may require long hours depending on the substrate (Peter McKoy, personal
communication).
4.3 Other Restoration Applications
Agro-‐ecology is another form of restoration that could benefit from the integration of
fungi into polyculture cropping systems. Edible fungi are an incredible source of nutrients for
people and certain species can aid food production (i.e. Garden Giant). Eighteen century
Parisians discovered the ability to cultivate mushrooms in old limestone caves. The sterile
technique was developed in the 1920’s (Peter McKoy 2013, personal communication).
Cultivated mushrooms provide a source of healthy food and potent medicine that can be grown
year round.
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5. 0 Results
The efficacy of Pleurotus ostreatus was anticipated because it is a vigorous strain that is
known to purify contaminated soil under the appropriate conditions (Stamets 2005). Although
the mycelium colonized the wood chips before the filters were installed in the field, up until the
date of this publication, the mycelium has not fruited which is necessary to denature the soil
and water toxins. There are a myriad of competing factors that may impact the fungi’s ability to
fruit at a restoration site. Issues can arise due to inadequate timing or moisture, contaminated
substrate or inoculum, and competition with bacteria or other established fungi (Harms
2006). The density of the mycelia matt is impacted by the concentrations and contact time of
contaminants. Some heavy metals are toxic to the mycelium and may overwhelm it (Matsubara
2006). Temperature has a major effect on the growth of mycelia and this corresponds to its
ability to target contaminants.
At site 1, it was discovered that Pleurotus ostreatus mycelium does not like to be
entirely submerged in water, therefore a small weir would need to be created in order to
control the height of the water. There are other species, such as the Garden Giant (Stropharia
rugosi annulata) that will better tolerate these conditions, but in general a mycofiltration
project should be designed to encourage water to flow through the mycelium vertically, to
prevent submersion.
On two separate occasions, in December 2012 and February 2012, I collected three
water samples to determine the presence of E.coli bacteria and PAH’s. One sample was
collected at the mouth of the storm water drain (#1), one 2 meters downstream form the
mycofilters (#2), and one ten meters from the mycolfilters (#3). The results in Appendix 1
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indicate that there was no significant change in water quality between sample times. If the
mycofilters fruit in the fall of 2013, I will conduct similar tests to gauge the effect.
With site 2, the mycelium was most likely out competed by vigorous bacteria adapted to
the polluted environment. Bacteria tolerate a broader range of habitats, use biochemical
reactions of higher specificity, and benefit from the improvement in bio-‐availability caused by
stirring of soil. Reported failure of filamentous fungi in remediation trials has occurred where
the soil is mechanically homogenized through digging or tilling, which prevents fungi from
developing mycelia (Harms 2006). Given that the Swan Lake’s previous history as a refuse
dump covered with soil, the original mycelium network would have been greatly disturbed. The
soil was noticeably compacted from urban run-‐off and trail use, therefore the biological agent
of choice would be bacteria over fungi.
The inoculum I used was created in a sterile laboratory and incubated in a temperature-‐
controlled environment. The resulting sawdust spawn was shipped over the Canadian/ US
border from Washington State with plastic bags wrapped around them so they stay moist. Even
though the inoculum is endemic to the Pacific Northwest, the local soil conditions would be
very different (Stamets 2005). As such, the fungus was ecologically displaced and the extensive
metabolic capabilities of these organisms were not realized (Harms 2006). The best approach
for future trials would be to create inoculum from the stem butts of native fungi. Incorporating
site-‐specific fungi into re-‐vegetation and restoration is of heightened importance because
fungal diversity is being negatively impacted by deforestation and reforestation practices,
industrial agriculture and development. Fungi, alone or in collaboration with bacteria and
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plants, could become an important component of biotechnologies designed to remediate
polluted soil, water and air (Harms 2006).
These sites will continue to be monitored and if Pleurotus ostreatus fruits from the
filters in the future, the contents will be taken to a lab for analysis of heavy metals or other
contaminants. This is a lengthy process that may take years therefore it is suited to sites that
do not require immediate results due to environmental legislation. I aim to conduct future
research to determine to what soil depth mycelium is effective at reducing contaminant levels.
6.0 Conclusion
Mycorestoration is a holistic science because it recognizes the importance of soil and
water. Water is the solvent of life. As far as we know, all organisms require water, and water
availability is an important factor affecting the growth of mycelia in nature. Soil is the
foundation of terrestrial life. Many fungi play an important role by recycling biomass and
turning it back into soil (Emil 2010). In order for a landscape to be restored, attention to the
quality of the soil and water is of utmost importance.
Filtering water with fungal mats has many other applications depending upon the end
goal. This technique can also be used to filter run-‐off from roads or manure from farms before
they drain into watersheds. With this approach, silt and other contaminants are captured in
the fungal mycelium mats before they impact ecosystem processes. A new era in fungal
biotechnologies is gaining slow but steady momentum. Some fungal strains have recently been
discovered that can inhabit and digest plastic waste in dump sites (Humar 2004).
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Paul Stamets, a visionary mycologist, realized the potential of white rot mushrooms for
removing petroleum hydrocarbons from contaminated soils. As noted before, white rot fungi
in the genus Pleurotus will completely degrade complex hydrocarbons in crude oil and have
been used in successful remediation of petroleum-‐contaminated soils and water. Crude oil is a
mixture of different types of hydrocarbons based on density. Gasoline is quite light and volatile
so much of it vaporizes. This is the part of crude oil that BP claimed had vanished weeks after
the notorious Gulf of Mexico oil spill in 2010 (Stamets, personal communication 2012). The
heavier hydrocarbons, such as heating oils or kerosene, contain bigger molecules that do not
easily evaporate. The most viscous compounds, called “asphaltic” compounds, or PAH
(Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons) are known carcinogens with a long lifespan. Oyster
mushroom mycelium is equipped to break down the complicated carbon chains in the heaviest
petrochemical products. Stamets tested the removal of petroleum hydrocarbons from the
surface water in marine environments. These experiments were done both in the field, and in
lab with similar results.
There are many different types of fungi, more than scientists can comprehend or keep
up with (Blackwell 2011). Fungi perform a variety of roles underlying the sustenance of forests
and other landscapes. They dominate the living biomass in soil and are abundant in aqueous
systems. The ability of some species to form extended mycelium networks and use pollutants
as a growth substrate makes them ideal candidates for restoration purposes (Harms 2006).
This project will benefit the field of restoration by providing another case study for
mycofiltration in the Pacific Northwest. To quote Paul Stamets in October 2012 at a mycology
course on Cortez Island; “Fail hard, because it is the price of tuition.”
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Appendix 1: Copy of Lab Results for Site 1 Saanich, Dist. of - Waterwks 06Dec12 9:41a W105215 Attn: Al Keiser Swan Lake 1040 McKenzie Avenue water Victoria, BC 3 V8P 2L4 TEL: (250) 475-5481 Arrival temp.: 8.0C FAX: (250) 475-5487 cc: [email protected] group Samples: Swan Lake Storms Fecal Coliforms * Site_Code Date Time (CFU/100mL) 1 #1 06Dec21 07:30a 1200 2 #2 06Dec12 07:30a 800 #2 DUP 07:30a 800 3 #3 06Dec12 07:30a 800 * membrane filtration Fecal Coliforms may also be known as Thermotolerant Coliforms Results may be adversely affected if samples are submitted to the laboratory more than 24 to 30 hours after collection. - see following page for chemistry results - _____________________ _____________________ M. Milholm W. Riggs Microbiologist Sr. Microbiologist M.B. LABS LTD T: 656-1334 F: 656-0443 E: [email protected] W: www.mblabs.com .
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Saanich, Dist. of - Waterwks 06Dec12 9:41a W105215 pg2 Attn: Al Keiser Swan Lake 1040 McKenzie Avenue water Victoria, BC 3 V8P 2L4 TEL: (250) 475-5481 Arrival temp.: 8.0C FAX: (250) 475-5487 cc: [email protected] group Samples: Swan Lake Storms TEH SAMPLE DATE TIME (mg/L) #1 06Dec21 07:30a ND #2 06Dec12 07:30a ND #3 06Dec12 07:30a ND Lab Blank ND So 0.003 REF. VALUE 50.0 STD ñ 2SD 50.7 ñ 4.19 SD = standard deviation STD = secondary standard calibrated to primary standard reference material So = standard deviation at zero analyte concentration; method detection limit is generally considered to be 3x So value ND = none detected n/a = not applicable ____________________ _____________________ R. Bilodeau H. Hartmann Analytical Chemist Sr.Analytical Chemist M.B. LABS LTD T: 656-1334 F: 656-0443 E: [email protected] W: www.mblabs.com .
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Saanich, University of Victoria 06Jan13 9:49a W106015 Attn: M Kenney Swan Lake 1280 Balmoral water Victoria, BC 3 V8T 1B5 TEL: (250) 896-4202 Arrival temp.: 8.3C FAX: cc: [email protected] group Samples: Swan Lake Storms Fecal Coliforms * Site_Code Date Time (CFU/100mL) 1 #1 06Jan13 07:30a 1100 2 #2 06Jan13 07:30a 900 3 #3 06Jan13 07:30a 800 * membrane filtration Fecal Coliforms may also be known as Thermotolerant Coliforms Results may be adversely affected if samples are submitted to the laboratory more than 24 to 30 hours after collection. - see following page for chemistry results - _____________________ _____________________ M. Milholm W. Riggs Microbiologist Sr. Microbiologist M.B. LABS LTD T: 656-1334 F: 656-0443 E: [email protected] W: www.mblabs.com .
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Saanich, University of Victoria 06Jan13 9:49a W106015p2 Attn: M Kenney Swan Lake 1280 Balmoral water Victoria, BC 3 V8T 1B5 TEL: (250) 896-4202 Arrival temp.: 8.3C FAX: cc: [email protected] group Samples: Swan Lake Storms TEH SAMPLE DATE TIME (mg/L) 1 #1 06Jan13 07:30a ND 2 #2 06Jan13 07:30a ND 3 #3 06Jan13 07:30a ND So 0.003 REF. VALUE 50.0 STD ñ 2SD 50.7 ñ 4.19 SD = standard deviation STD = secondary standard calibrated to primary standard reference material So = standard deviation at zero analyte concentration; method detection limit is generally considered to be 3x So value ND = none detected n/a = not applicable ____________________ _____________________ R. Bilodeau H. Hartmann Analytical Chemist Sr.Analytical Chemist M.B. LABS LTD T: 656-1334 F: 656-0443 E: [email protected] W: www.mblabs.com .
