Fungal Adaptation to Polluted Environments.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Mycology
• Ecology

Background:

• Human activities introduce toxic compounds, altering ecosystems and forcing organisms to adapt or face extinction.
• Fungi, particularly less-studied taxa and communities, face challenges in understanding their adaptations to these new environmental pressures.
• Polluted environments present unique evolutionary and ecological contexts for fungal organisms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current knowledge on fungal adaptation to polluted environments.
• To identify research trends and gaps in the study of fungi in polluted habitats.
• To explore the potential of new technologies for studying fungal adaptations.

Main Methods:

• Compilation of a broad-stroke review of existing literature on fungi and pollution.
• Analysis of research framing, focusing on remediation and biomonitoring approaches.
• Consideration of advancements in genomics and metabarcoding for future research.

Main Results:

• Most research on fungi in polluted environments is framed around remediation (primarily soil fungi) and biomonitoring (lichen and mycorrhizal communities).
• There is a need for further characterization of fungal adaptations and community changes in response to pollution.
• Genomics and metabarcoding hold significant promise for advancing the study of microscopic fungi in polluted ecosystems.

Conclusions:

• Understanding fungal adaptation to pollution requires further investigation beyond current remediation and biomonitoring frameworks.
• Technological advancements are crucial for uncovering the adaptations and community dynamics of fungi in polluted environments.
• Pollution significantly reshapes the evolutionary trajectories and ecological roles of fungi.