5 research outputs found
Spin Symmetry Requirements in Density Functional Theory: The Proper Way to Predict Magnetic Coupling Constants in Molecules and Solids
Setting the scene
Fungi are a keystone component of all ecosystems on earth and have shaped the structure and functioning of nature for eons. Their body is made up of an interwoven mass of threadlike filaments, individually called hyphae and altogether known as mycelium. When fungi form spore-forming structures, the so-called mushrooms, these are also built up of hyphae. The three known trophic groups of fungi have had a fundamental functional diversity in the development of life as we know it. The so-called saprotrophs use the complex dead materials of plants, animals, and microorganisms, including other fungi, as their source of energyâplaying a crucial role in nutrient recycling in nature. Mycorrhizal fungi, which establish symbiotic relationships with the roots of plants, have gone hand in hand with plants in the colonization of life on land environments since more than 400 million years. Ectomycorrhizal fungi, in particular, are currently essential in maintaining forest masses worldwide since they establish mutualistic relationships with trees and shrubs mainly. According to the recently named Readâs rule, they dominate ecosystems with low mineralization rates in high-latitude regions with cold and dry climates. Furthermore, they have also been considered the earthâs natural internet, or âwood wide webâ, because they connect plants and enable them to share nutrients, water, and signal compounds among individuals and species. These networks also help stocking carbon in organic forms from the atmosphere, contributing to climate regulation. Some fungi also establish parasitic relationships with plants and animals, working as an evolutionary force and a selection pressure factor of paramount importance in these groups of living organisms. On top of this ecological and evolutionary relevance, the reproductive structures of fungi, the mushrooms, have shapes and colours that have always fascinated humans. Since early human history, mushrooms have also been an important source of food, medicine, and ceremonial use, all around the world. They also cause death or disease, since deadly and poisonous species exist. Nowadays, they are an important source for the search of new antibiotics, enzymes with industrial use, bioremediation, biofuels, cosmetics, inks, and dyes. In this introductory chapter, we will first describe some remarkable ecological facts related to mushrooms, including members of the three trophic groups previously mentioned. Then, we will provide evidences of the ancient relationships between mushrooms and humans; and, finally, we will analyse the relationships between mushrooms, humans, and nature in different parts of the world, describing and illustrating different realities in five continents
Carbon content and pH as important drivers of fungal community structure in three Amazon forests
Recommended from our members
Integrated global assessment of the natural forest carbon potential.
Forests are a substantial terrestrial carbon sink, but anthropogenic changes in land use and climate have considerably reduced the scale of this system1. Remote-sensing estimates to quantify carbon losses from global forests2-5 are characterized by considerable uncertainty and we lack a comprehensive ground-sourced evaluation to benchmark these estimates. Here we combine several ground-sourced6 and satellite-derived approaches2,7,8 to evaluate the scale of the global forest carbon potential outside agricultural and urban lands. Despite regional variation, the predictions demonstrated remarkable consistency at a global scale, with only a 12% difference between the ground-sourced and satellite-derived estimates. At present, global forest carbon storage is markedly under the natural potential, with a total deficit of 226âGt (model rangeâ=â151-363âGt) in areas with low human footprint. Most (61%, 139âGtâC) of this potential is in areas with existing forests, in which ecosystem protection can allow forests to recover to maturity. The remaining 39% (87âGtâC) of potential lies in regions in which forests have been removed or fragmented. Although forests cannot be a substitute for emissions reductions, our results support the idea2,3,9 that the conservation, restoration and sustainable management of diverse forests offer valuable contributions to meeting global climate and biodiversity targets