Some researchers are racing against time to uncover the unknown diversity in nature, while also developing ways to save it. Fungi are among the most diverse and ecologically important kingdoms in life. Now, a group from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland is focused on mapping fungi, and is using the air to do it. The researchers noted, “To provide an integrated view of the spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi, we implemented a globally distributed standardized aerial sampling of fungal spores.”
“Air is a real treasure trove for nature research,” said Nerea Abrego, PhD, academy research fellow at the University of Jyväskylä. “It is full of DNA from plants, fungi, bacteria, insects, mammals, and other organisms.”
Abrego led a study in which DNA sequencing was used to identify fungi from air samples collected around the world, providing information about the climatic and evolutionary factors influencing the occurrence and seasonal variation of both previously known and unknown fungi.
The group develops statistical modeling, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence methods for using new types of biodiversity data for accurate forecasting.
The research showed that “the hyperdiverse kingdom of fungi follows globally highly predictable spatial and temporal dynamics, with seasonality in both species richness and community composition increasing with latitude.”
This work is published in Nature in the paper, “Airborne DNA reveals predictable spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi.”
The authors found that “the vast majority of operational taxonomic units were detected within only one climatic zone, and the spatiotemporal patterns of species richness and community composition were mostly explained by annual mean air temperature. Tropical regions hosted the highest fungal diversity except for lichenized, ericoid mycorrhizal, and ectomycorrhizal fungi, which reached their peak diversity in temperate regions.”
“This knowledge is essential not only to understand where and when different fungal species thrive, but also to predict their fate under the ongoing global change,” said Abrego.
“One particularly interesting subject for further research is a more detailed review of the sequences for fungi that are important to humans,” said Abrego. “These include fungal diseases of humans, crops, and production animals, as well as fungi that indicate the progress of the loss of nature and the weakening of natural ecosystem processes.”
Since almost all fungi are at least partially spread through the air, the study included not only boletes and russulas, but also, for example, lichens, bracket fungi, molds, and yeasts. Biodiversity sampling techniques may revolutionize biomonitoring and biodiversity forecasts in the coming years. Using DNA as well as image and audio, a follow-up project is working on studying fungi, insects, mammals, birds, bats, and frogs at hundreds of locations around the world.
Abrego is leading a project where air sampling and other new research methods are being piloted as part of the regular Finnish national forest inventory coordinated by the Natural Resources Institute Finland. The goal of this project, funded by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment, is to produce comprehensive information about natural diversity, especially about previously poorly known fungi and insects, which can then be used in decision-making processes.
