For decades, the scientific community widely believed that fungi, with their airborne spores, had the unique ability to disperse across vast distances and establish themselves anywhere suitable conditions existed. This assumed ability has set them apart from plants and animals, whose movements are constrained by geographical barriers. However, recent research has uncovered that climate significantly influences fungal distribution, leading to more localized patterns of spread than previously thought.
The Global Spore Sampling Project, led by an international team of researchers, is the largest global air sampling study ever conducted to study fungal distribution. Over the course of two years, the researchers deployed air samplers at 47 sites across all continents except Antarctica. These locations spanned diverse environments, ranging from tropical rainforests to arid deserts. Since most fungi reproduce by releasing airborne spores, the air samplers could collect information on how they travel and where they settle.
Based on the data collected, the study found that fungal spores, although capable of traveling great distances, are most likely to establish and thrive in areas with specific climatic conditions, like temperature and humidity. Warmer climates, in particular, were associated with higher fungal diversity, indicating that climate change could dramatically alter the distribution of fungal communities. The mean annual temperature of a region was the most critical factor influencing the types of airborne fungi present. The research noted an increase in fungal diversity and abundance from the poles toward the equator, indicating that warmer temperatures support a larger variety of fungal species (1).
The findings of the study suggest that as global temperatures continue to rise, fungal populations could see a significant shift in their distribution patterns. Although researchers are still determining the full ecological implications of these changes, it’s evident that the alterations in fungal populations could impact various ecosystems, considering the crucial role fungi play as decomposers. Additionally, fungal distribution could have a major impact on the spread of fungal diseases, both in humans and in crops, so more research will be required to fully comprehend the consequences of these quickly evolving dynamics. Nonetheless, the overall findings of this project contribute greatly to our understanding of fungal ecology and how they’re impacted by climate change.
“The very diverse kingdom of fungi follows globally highly predictable patterns. These patterns resemble those described for other major groups of organisms. This research makes a major contribution to that long-standing debate, ” noted Professor Gareth Griffith from Aberystwyth University. “Our results highlight the role of temperature as an underlying driver of fungal dispersal, with fungal diversity increasing with warmer climates and more spores being released on warmer days. This finding suggests that global climate change, and generally warming climates, will have a major role in restructuring fungal communities.”
References
- Ovaskainen, Otso, Nerea Abrego, Brendan Furneaux, Bess Hardwick, Panu Somervuo, Isabella Palorinne, Nigel R. Andrew, et al. 2024. “Global Spore Sampling Project: A Global, Standardized Dataset of Airborne Fungal DNA.” Scientific Data 11 (1): 561. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-024-03410-0.
