Fungal impacts on Earth's ecosystems

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Ecology
• Biotechnology

Background:

• The fungal kingdom comprises over two million species, with most remaining undescribed.
• Fungi are essential heterotrophs for nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration in ecosystems.
• Fungi have diverse applications in food, beverages, biofuels, and pharmaceuticals, but also cause significant infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the threats posed by fungi to civilization.
• To investigate opportunities for utilizing fungi to address these threats.
• To explore the potential of fungi in the expanding bioeconomy.

Main Methods:

• Genomic surveys to assess fungal biodiversity.
• Review of existing and potential applications of fungi.
• Analysis of fungal threats and their drivers, including climate change.

Main Results:

• Fungal biodiversity is vast and largely unexplored.
• Fungi present both risks (infections) and opportunities (bioeconomy, pharmaceuticals).
• Genomic data and genome-editing tools offer new avenues for fungal research and application.

Conclusions:

• Fungi represent a critical frontier in understanding biodiversity and ecological processes.
• Harnessing fungal capabilities can provide solutions to global challenges.
• Further research is needed to mitigate fungal threats and leverage their benefits.