Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025

Microfluidic Tools for Probing Fungal-Microbial Interactions at the Cellular Level
Published on: June 23, 2022
Toward harnessing biodiversity-ecosystem function relationships in fungi
Kadri Runnel1, Leho Tedersoo2, Franz-Sebastian Krah3
1Goethe University Frankfurt, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Institute for Ecology, Evolution and Diversity, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; University of Tartu, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, 50409 Tartu, Estonia.
Abstract:
Fungi are crucial for terrestrial ecosystems, yet the role of fungal diversity in ecosystem functions remains unclear. We synthesize fungal biodiversity and ecosystem function (BEF) relationships, focusing on plant biomass production, carbon storage, decomposition, and pathogen or parasite resistance. The observed BEF relationships for these ecosystem functions vary in strength and direction, complicating generalizations. Strong positive relationships are generally observed when multiple ecosystem functions are addressed simultaneously. Often, fungal community composition outperforms species richness in predicting ecosystem functions. For more comprehensive fungal BEF research, we recommend studying natural communities, considering the simultaneous functions of a broader array of fungal guilds across spatiotemporal scales, and integrating community assembly concepts into BEF research. For this, we propose a conceptual framework and testable hypotheses.
More Related Videos
08:28Mycorrhizal Maps as a Tool to Explore Colonization Patterns and Fungal Strategies in the Roots of Festuca rubra and Zea mays
Published on: August 26, 2022
08:21Isolation and Screening from Soil Biodiversity for Fungi Involved in the Degradation of Recalcitrant Materials
Published on: May 16, 2022
Related Concept Videos
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition
Fungal Group Zygomycota
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Symbiosis
Epiphytes, Parasites, and Carnivores
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy