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Fungal impacts on Earth’s ecosystems

Author

Listed:
  • Nicola T. Case

    (University of Toronto)

  • Sarah J. Gurr

    (University of Exeter
    University of Utrecht)

  • Matthew C. Fisher

    (Imperial College London)

  • David S. Blehert

    (U.S. Geological Survey)

  • Charles Boone

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science)

  • Arturo Casadevall

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • Anuradha Chowdhary

    (University of Delhi
    University of Delhi)

  • Christina A. Cuomo

    (Brown University)

  • Cameron R. Currie

    (McMaster University
    University of Wisconsin–Madison)

  • David W. Denning

    (University of Manchester)

  • Iuliana V. Ene

    (Université Paris Cité)

  • Lillian K. Fritz-Laylin

    (University of Massachusetts)

  • Aleeza C. Gerstein

    (University of Manitoba
    University of Manitoba)

  • Neil A. R. Gow

    (University of Exeter)

  • Asiya Gusa

    (Duke University)

  • Iliyan D. Iliev

    (Cornell University
    Weill Cornell Medicine
    Cornell University
    Cornell University)

  • Timothy Y. James

    (University of Michigan)

  • Hailing Jin

    (University of California, Riverside)

  • Regine Kahmann

    (Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology)

  • Bruce S. Klein

    (University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health)

  • James W. Kronstad

    (University of British Columbia)

  • Kyla S. Ost

    (University of Colorado Anschutz School of Medicine)

  • Kabir G. Peay

    (Stanford University)

  • Rebecca S. Shapiro

    (University of Guelph)

  • Donald C. Sheppard

    (McGill University)

  • Neta Shlezinger

    (Hebrew University of Jerusalem)

  • Jason E. Stajich

    (University of California, Riverside)

  • Eva H. Stukenbrock

    (Christian Albrecht University of Kiel and Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Biology)

  • John W. Taylor

    (University of California, Berkeley)

  • Gerard D. Wright

    (McMaster University)

  • Leah E. Cowen

    (University of Toronto)

  • Joseph Heitman

    (Duke University)

  • Julia A. Segre

    (NIH)

Abstract

Over the past billion years, the fungal kingdom has diversified to more than two million species, with over 95% still undescribed. Beyond the well-known macroscopic mushrooms and microscopic yeast, fungi are heterotrophs that feed on almost any organic carbon, recycling nutrients through the decay of dead plants and animals and sequestering carbon into Earth’s ecosystems. Human-directed applications of fungi extend from leavened bread, alcoholic beverages and biofuels to pharmaceuticals, including antibiotics and psychoactive compounds. Conversely, fungal infections pose risks to ecosystems ranging from crops to wildlife to humans; these risks are driven, in part, by human and animal movement, and might be accelerating with climate change. Genomic surveys are expanding our knowledge of the true biodiversity of the fungal kingdom, and genome-editing tools make it possible to imagine harnessing these organisms to fuel the bioeconomy. Here, we examine the fungal threats facing civilization and investigate opportunities to use fungi to combat these threats.

Suggested Citation

  • Nicola T. Case & Sarah J. Gurr & Matthew C. Fisher & David S. Blehert & Charles Boone & Arturo Casadevall & Anuradha Chowdhary & Christina A. Cuomo & Cameron R. Currie & David W. Denning & Iuliana V. , 2025. "Fungal impacts on Earth’s ecosystems," Nature, Nature, vol. 638(8049), pages 49-57, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:638:y:2025:i:8049:d:10.1038_s41586-024-08419-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-08419-4
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