Always very tricky to say what is not there. Had this thought today when noticed that the area near my office that last year had loads of earthstars had none this year (at least so far). I have been looking out for them for a couple of months.
Based on my Cape experience -some things have their own patterns. Ours are often triggered by fires some only the season after the fire, others slowly disappear becoming fewer until one thinks they are extinct - and then another fire and we would see masses.
Now you see them - now you don’t!!!
Sometimes species are merely overlooked - I used to photograph everything in sight (or so I thought) but recently comparing notes with a friend who diarised what she saw the same outing - she had species that I hadn’t recorded.
Looking at locations of some historical Bolus specimens on the Peninsula - some I’ve seen in the same vicinity (not verified) but the Red list recorders have just not seen them, so think they aren’t there.
REMINDERS
Erica patersonii Andrews
See the map from the time when there was a dedicated botanist at Cape Point.
patersonii-cape-point-june-6th-2009
,
Cytinus - the first sighting since 1965 - Cape Point - 2010
Recently posted (needs verification)
Metalasia compacta, Silvermine - Aug. 2003 | Observation | Southern Africa | iSpot Nature
another at the same location as the Swedish specimen
Happens so often.
Yes all sorts of patterns but easier to detect these if you can be sure things are not there at certain times rather than just no recorder happened to visit at the key time. This is particularly an issue for some fungi (and possibly inverts) which may only be present for a few days, at least the fruiting bodies.
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I think there is a lot of variation in the occurrence of (visible) fungi year on year. For example, shaggy ink cap is usually common near me but I’ve not seen a single one this year.