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The Golden Oyster Mushroom Brings Peril to Forests
The Golden Oyster Mushroom has been spreading rapidly throughout the forests of North America, especially in states near the Great Lakes. According to the New York Times, these mushrooms are, “sapping the resources of native mushrooms.”
These mushrooms — native to Asia — are grown easily and are edible. They typically grow in the U.S. because of humans, since they are sold in kits. Most likely, they have spread from backyards and compost piles; however, their presence has become so dominant, mycologist Aishwaraya Veerabahu believes that no one, “would hesitate to call it invasive.”
In a study that was partially written by Veerrabahu and published in Current Biology, study authors drilled into 26 dead elm trees in Wisconsin, finding that 15 of the trees hosted the Golden Oyster species. In fact, the trees seemed to host around half as many mushroom species as other trees that did not host the golden mushrooms, demonstrating how the Golden Oyster Mushrooms’ presence could be suppressing biodiversity.
Another author of the study, Michelle Jusino, tells the New York Times that “when this fungus gets into a tree and you start to see it making a mushroom, the tree seems to have very little time to stay standing on the landscape.”
Dr. Jusino notes that trees infected with the fungus can also impact the plants and animals who benefit from old trunks. Climate change has further fueled the Golden Oyster’s expansion, since changing weather patterns are more likely to suit the mushroom and propel its growth. In fact the mushroom species has even been found in states like Alabama, Colorado, and Texas, all of which are far from the Great Lakes region.
Despite ecological concerns, the mushroom remains a favorite among chefs. Alan Bergo, a chef and author, describes the mushrooms as having a, “meaty, umami, nutty quality to them.” Yet even its most devoted fans — including Veerabahu and Jusino — admit that the distinct appeal of the Golden Oyster has worn off. “We’ve smelled this thing too much to find it enticing anymore,” Dr. Jusino says.
As the golden oyster continues its march across North America, scientists and nature lovers both are watching closely.

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