Every member has a role that decides what they can do on Field Mycologist UK. Most members are Observers, and experienced identifiers become Identifiers.
Observer
Everyone starts as an Observer. Observers can:
- Record, edit and delete their own observations
- Comment on any observation
- Suggest an ID on other members’ observations
- Agree with an ID on other members’ observations
- Accept a suggestion on their own observations
- Save favourites, download herbarium labels and export to iNaturalist
Identifier
Identifiers are experienced members trusted to help confirm identifications. As well as everything an Observer can do:
- Their agreement counts for more: an ID an Identifier backs is confirmed with a lead of two votes instead of three. See Confirming IDs as an Identifier
- See the list of disputed observations and help settle them. See Disputed Observations
An Identifier’s own observations are confirmed more easily: their ID counts with an Identifier’s weight, so one member agreeing with it is enough.
Becoming an Identifier
Observers who consistently make accurate identifications can be promoted to Identifier automatically. There’s nothing to apply for. Keep suggesting and agreeing with IDs when you’re confident, and when you’re promoted you’ll receive a You’re now an Identifier! email and your agreements will carry extra weight on the website and in the app.
The best way to get there is to only agree or suggest when you’re genuinely confident. Careful, accurate identifications matter far more than how many you make.
Designated Verifiers
A small number of members with recognised expertise are appointed as designated verifiers by the site team. On top of the community’s IDs, they can give a formal verdict on an observation, using the same terms as the NBN Atlas. Their verdict is shown on the observation and shared with the NBN Atlas, and it applies for as long as the observation shows the species they checked. Verifiers can’t verify their own observations. See NBN Atlas Data Sharing.
Administrators
Administrators run the site. They manage accounts, moderate flagged content and look after the fungi database, including reviewing new species.
How an Observation Gets Confirmed
An observation is confirmed when:
- An ID is clearly ahead of every other ID, because enough members agree with it (community agreement), or
- It reaches Research Grade on iNaturalist with the same species
Confirmed observations show a green tick. See Understanding Observation Status for the details.
