Five new species of entomopathogenic fungi from the Amazon and evolution of neotropical Ophiocordyceps

The neotropical biogeographic zone is a ‘hot spot’ of global biodiversity, especially for insects. Fungal pathogens of insects appear to track this diversity. However, the integration of this unique component of fungal diversity into molecular phylogenetic analyses remains sparse. The entomopathogenic fungal genus Ophiocordyceps is species rich in this region with the first descriptions dating to the early nineteenth century. In this study, material from various ecosystems throughout Colombia and Ecuador was examined. Molecular phylogenetic analyses of five nuclear loci including SSU, LSU, TEF, RPB1, and RPB2 were conducted alongside a morphological evaluation. Thirty-five specimens were examined representing fifteen different species of Ophiocordyceps, and five new species, Ophiocordyceps blattarioides, Ophiocordyceps tiputini, Ophiocordyceps araracuarensis, Ophiocordyceps fulgoromorphila, and Ophiocordyceps evansii, were described. An accurate identification of the host allowed us to conclude that host identity and host habitat are positively correlated with phylogenetic species of Ophiocordyceps and are probably strong drivers for speciation of neotropical entomopathogenic fungi.Keywords: Diversity, Fulgoridae, Host specificity, Formicidae, Taxonomy, Hypocreale

Metabarcoding of soil environmental DNA to estimate plant diversity globally

IntroductionTraditional approaches to collecting large-scale biodiversity data pose huge logistical and technical challenges. We aimed to assess how a comparatively simple method based on sequencing environmental DNA (eDNA) characterises global variation in plant diversity and community composition compared with data derived from traditional plant inventory methods. MethodsWe sequenced a short fragment (P6 loop) of the chloroplast trnL intron from from 325 globally distributed soil samples and compared estimates of diversity and composition with those derived from traditional sources based on empirical (GBIF) or extrapolated plant distribution and diversity data. ResultsLarge-scale plant diversity and community composition patterns revealed by sequencing eDNA were broadly in accordance with those derived from traditional sources. The success of the eDNA taxonomy assignment, and the overlap of taxon lists between eDNA and GBIF, was greatest at moderate to high latitudes of the northern hemisphere. On average, around half (mean: 51.5% SD 17.6) of local GBIF records were represented in eDNA databases at the species level, depending on the geographic region. DiscussioneDNA trnL gene sequencing data accurately represent global patterns in plant diversity and composition and thus can provide a basis for large-scale vegetation studies. Important experimental considerations for plant eDNA studies include using a sampling volume and design to maximise the number of taxa detected and optimising the sequencing depth. However, increasing the coverage of reference sequence databases would yield the most significant improvements in the accuracy of taxonomic assignments made using the P6 loop of the trnL region

What Do the First 597 Global Fungal Red List Assessments Tell Us about the Threat Status of Fungi?

Fungal species are not immune to the threats facing animals and plants and are thus also prone to extinction. Yet, until 2015, fungi were nearly absent on the IUCN Red List. Recent efforts to identify fungal species under threat have significantly increased the number of published fungal assessments. The 597 species of fungi published in the 2022-1 IUCN Red List update (21 July 2022) are the basis for the first global review of the extinction risk of fungi and the threats they face. Nearly 50% of the assessed species are threatened, with 10% NT and 9% DD. For regions with a larger number of assessments (i.e., Europe, North America, and South America), subanalyses are provided. Data for lichenized and nonlichenized fungi are also summarized separately. Habitat loss/degradation followed by climate change, invasive species, and pollution are the primary identified threats. Bias in the data is discussed along with knowledge gaps. Suggested actions to address these gaps are provided along with a discussion of the use of assessments to facilitate on-the-ground conservation efforts. A research agenda for conservation mycology to assist in the assessment process and implementation of effective species/habitat management is presented

Global diversity and distribution of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil

Our knowledge of microbial biogeography has advanced in recent years, yet we lack knowledge of the global diversity of some important functional groups. Here, we used environmental DNA from 327 globally collected soil samples to investigate the biodiversity patterns of nitrogen-fixing bacteria by focusing on the nifH gene but also amplifying the general prokaryotic 16S SSU region. Globally, N-fixing prokaryotic communities are driven mainly by climatic conditions, with most groups being positively correlated with stable hot or seasonally humid climates. Among soil parameters, pH, but also soil N content were most often shown to correlate with the diversity of N-fixer groups. However, specific groups of N-fixing prokaryotes show contrasting responses to the same variables, notably in Cyanobacteria that were negatively correlated with stable hot climates, and showed a U-shaped correlation with soil pH, contrary to other N-fixers. Also, the non-N-fixing prokaryotic community composition was differentially correlated with the diversity and abundance of N-fixer groups, showing the often-neglected impact of biotic interactions among bacteria

Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi

Fungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high-resolution, long-read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West-Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land-cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early-diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms

Global diversity and distribution of nitrogen-fixing bacteria in the soil

Our knowledge of microbial biogeography has advanced in recent years, yet we lack knowledge of the global diversity of some important functional groups. Here, we used environmental DNA from 327 globally collected soil samples to investigate the biodiversity patterns of nitrogen-fixing bacteria by focusing on the nifH gene but also amplifying the general prokaryotic 16S SSU region. Globally, N-fixing prokaryotic communities are driven mainly by climatic conditions, with most groups being positively correlated with stable hot or seasonally humid climates. Among soil parameters, pH, but also soil N content were most often shown to correlate with the diversity of N-fixer groups. However, specific groups of N-fixing prokaryotes show contrasting responses to the same variables, notably in Cyanobacteria that were negatively correlated with stable hot climates, and showed a U-shaped correlation with soil pH, contrary to other N-fixers. Also, the non-N-fixing prokaryotic community composition was differentially correlated with the diversity and abundance of N-fixer groups, showing the often-neglected impact of biotic interactions among bacteria

DataSheet_1_Metabarcoding of soil environmental DNA to estimate plant diversity globally.pdf

IntroductionTraditional approaches to collecting large-scale biodiversity data pose huge logistical and technical challenges. We aimed to assess how a comparatively simple method based on sequencing environmental DNA (eDNA) characterises global variation in plant diversity and community composition compared with data derived from traditional plant inventory methods.MethodsWe sequenced a short fragment (P6 loop) of the chloroplast trnL intron from from 325 globally distributed soil samples and compared estimates of diversity and composition with those derived from traditional sources based on empirical (GBIF) or extrapolated plant distribution and diversity data.ResultsLarge-scale plant diversity and community composition patterns revealed by sequencing eDNA were broadly in accordance with those derived from traditional sources. The success of the eDNA taxonomy assignment, and the overlap of taxon lists between eDNA and GBIF, was greatest at moderate to high latitudes of the northern hemisphere. On average, around half (mean: 51.5% SD 17.6) of local GBIF records were represented in eDNA databases at the species level, depending on the geographic region.DiscussioneDNA trnL gene sequencing data accurately represent global patterns in plant diversity and composition and thus can provide a basis for large-scale vegetation studies. Important experimental considerations for plant eDNA studies include using a sampling volume and design to maximise the number of taxa detected and optimising the sequencing depth. However, increasing the coverage of reference sequence databases would yield the most significant improvements in the accuracy of taxonomic assignments made using the P6 loop of the trnL region.</p

Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa

Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.Peer reviewe

Considerations and consequences of allowing DNA sequence data as types of fungal taxa

Abstract Nomenclatural type definitions are one of the most important concepts in biological nomenclature. Being physical objects that can be re-studied by other researchers, types permanently link taxonomy (an artificial agreement to classify biological diversity) with nomenclature (an artificial agreement to name biological diversity). Two proposals to amend the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN), allowing DNA sequences alone (of any region and extent) to serve as types of taxon names for voucherless fungi (mainly putative taxa from environmental DNA sequences), have been submitted to be voted on at the 11th International Mycological Congress (Puerto Rico, July 2018). We consider various genetic processes affecting the distribution of alleles among taxa and find that alleles may not consistently and uniquely represent the species within which they are contained. Should the proposals be accepted, the meaning of nomenclatural types would change in a fundamental way from physical objects as sources of data to the data themselves. Such changes are conducive to irreproducible science, the potential typification on artefactual data, and massive creation of names with low information content, ultimately causing nomenclatural instability and unnecessary work for future researchers that would stall future explorations of fungal diversity. We conclude that the acceptance of DNA sequences alone as types of names of taxa, under the terms used in the current proposals, is unnecessary and would not solve the problem of naming putative taxa known only from DNA sequences in a scientifically defensible way. As an alternative, we highlight the use of formulas for naming putative taxa (candidate taxa) that do not require any modification of the ICN.Publisher’s Note A first version of this text was prepared by the first eight authors and the last one, given here. The other listed co-authors in the article PDF support the content, and their actual contributions varied from only support to additions that substantially improved the content. The full details of all co-authors, with their affiliations, are included in Supplementary Table 1 after p.175 of the article for reasons of clarity and space. Slavomír Adamčík Institute of Botany, Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia Teuvo Ahti Finnish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 7, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland M. Catherine Aime Purdue University, 915 W. State St., West Lafayette, Indiana 47907, U.S.A. A. Martyn Ainsworth Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, United Kingdom László Albert Hungarian Mycological Society, 1087 Könyves Kálmán krt. 40, Budapest, Hungary Edgardo Albertó Instituto de Investigaciones Biotecnológicas-Instituto Tecnológico de Chascomús, Universidad Nacional de San Martin-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina Alberto Altés García Facultad de Biología, Ciencias Ambientales y Química, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Dmitry Ageev SIGNATEC Ltd., 630090, Novosibirsk, Akademgorodok (Novosibirsk Scientific Center), Inzhenernaya str., 22, Russia Reinhard Agerer Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Menzinger Str. 67, 80638 München, Germany Begona Aguirre-Hudson Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, United Kingdom Joe Ammirati University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-1800, U.S.A. Harry Andersson Eichhahnweg 29a, 38108 Braunschweig, Germany Claudio Angelini Jardín Botánico Nacional Dr. Rafael Ma. Moscoso, Apartado 21-9, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic Vladimír Antonín Moravian Museum, Zeny trh 6, 659 37 Brno, Czech Republic Takayuki Aoki Genetic Resources Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, 2-1-2 Kannondai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8602, Japan André Aptroot ABL Herbarium, G.v.d.Veenstraat 107, 3762 XK Soest, The Netherlands Didier Argaud 40 rue du Justemont, 57290 Fameck, France Blanca Imelda Arguello Sosa Instituto Tecnológico de Ciudad Victoria, Tecnológico Nacional de México, Ciudad Victoria, Tamaulipas, Mexico Arne Aronsen Torødveien 54, 3135 Torød, Norway Ulf Arup Biological Museum, Lund University, Box 117, 221 00 Lund, Sweden Bita Asgari Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran Boris Assyov Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2 Gagarin Str., 1113 Sofia, Bulgaria Violeta Atienza Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universitat de València, C/Dr Moliner 50, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain Ditte Bandini Panoramastr 47, 69257 Wiesenbach, Germany João Luís Baptista-Ferreira Instituto de Biossistemas e Ciências Integrativas, Faculdade de Ciências da Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisboa, Portugal Hans-Otto Baral Blaihofstr. 42, 72074 Tübingen, Germany Tim Baroni The State University of New York, 340 Bowers Hall, P.O. Box 2000, Cortland, New York 13045, U.S.A. Robert Weingart Barreto Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil Henry Beker (1) Royal Holloway, University of London, United Kingdom; (2) Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium Ann Bell 45 Gurney Road, Lower Hutt, New Zealand Jean-Michel Bellanger CEFE UMR5175, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier, EPHE, INSERM, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cédex 5, France Francesco Bellù Naturmusem of Bolzano, CP 104, 39100, Bolzano, Italy Martin Bemmann Kleingemünderstraße 111, 69118 Heidelberg, Germany Mika Bendiksby NTNU, University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway Egil Bendiksen Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway Katriina Bendiksen Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway Lajos Benedek Szent Istvan University, Hungary Anna Bérešová-Guttová Institute of Botany, Plant Science and Biodiversity Centre, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dúbravská cesta 9, 845 23 Bratislava, Slovakia Franz Berger University of Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria Reinhard Berndt Herbaria Z+ZT, ETH Zürich, CHN D37, Universitätstr. 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland Annarosa Bernicchia Via A. Guidotti 39, 40134 Bologna, Italy Alona Yu. Biketova Institute of Biochemistry, BRC-HAS, 6726 Szeged, Temesvari krt. 62, 6726 Szeged, Hungary Enrico Bizio Società Veneziana di Micologia, Società Veneziana di Scienze Naturali, Fontego dei Turchi, Santa Croce 1730, 30135 Venice, Italy Curtis Bjork UBC Herbarium, Beaty Biodiversity Museum, University of British Columbia, Canada Teun Boekhout (1) Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands; (2) Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands David Boertmann Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, 4000 Roskilde, Denmark Tanja Böhning AG Geobotanik Schleswig-Holstein &amp; Hamburg, c/o University of Kiel, Olshausenstraße 75, 24098 Kiel, Germany Florent Boittin Ascomycete.org, 36 rue de la Garde, 69005 Lyon, France Carlos G. Boluda Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève, 1292 Genève, Switzerland Menno W. Boomsluiter T.v.Lohuizenstraat 34, 8172xl, Vaassen, The Netherlands Jan Borovička Institute of Geology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Rozvojova 269, 165 00 Prague 6, Czech Republic Tor Erik Brandrud Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway Uwe Braun Martin-Luther-Universität, Institut für Biologie, Bereich Geobotanik, und Botanischer Garten, Herbarium, Neuwerk 21, 06099 Halle, Germany Irwin Brodo Canadian Museum of Nature, 240 McLeod Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Tatiana Bulyonkova A.P. Ershov Institute of Informatics Systems, Russian Academy of Sciences, Siberian Branch, 6 Acad. Lavrentjev pr., Novosibirsk 630090, Russia Harold H. Burdsall Jr. Fungal &amp; Decay Diagnostics, LLC, 9350 Union Valley Road, Black Earth, Wisconsin 53515, U.S.A. Bart Buyck Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, CP 39, ISYEB, UMR 7205 CNRS MNHN UPMC EPHE, 12 rue Buffon, 75005 Paris, France Ana Rosa Burgaz Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain Vicent Calatayud Fundación CEAM, c/ Charles R. Darwin, 14, Parque Tecnológico, 46980 Paterna, Valencia, Spain Philippe Callac INRA, MycSA, CS 20032, 33882 Villenave d’Ornon, France Emanuele Campo Associazione Micologica Bresadola, Via Alessandro Volta 46, 38123 Trento, Italy Massimo Candusso Via Ottone Primo 90, 17021, Alassio, Savona, Italy Brigitte Capoen Queffioec, rue de Saint Gonval, 22710 Penvenan, France Joaquim Carbó Roser, 60, 17257 Torroella de Montgrí, Girona, Spain Matteo Carbone Via Don Luigi Sturzo 173 16148 Genova, Italy Rafael F. Castañeda-Ruiz Instituto de Investigaciones Fundamentales en Agricultura, Tropical ‘Alejandro de Humboldt’, OSDE, Grupo Agrícola, Calle 1 Esq. 2, Santiago de Las Vegas, C. Habana 17200, Cuba Michael A. Castellano USDA, Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Corvallis, Oregon 97330, U.S.A. Jie Chen Mae Fah Luang University, Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand Philippe Clerc Conservatoire et Jardin botaniques de la Ville de Genève, 1292 Genève, Switzerland Giovanni Consiglio Via C. Ronzani 61, 40033 Casalecchio Bologna, Italy Gilles Corriol National Botanical Conservatory for Pyrenees and Midi-Pyrénées Region of France and BBF Herbarium, Vallon de Salut. B.P. 315. 65203 Bagnères-de-Bigorre, France Régis Courtecuisse Université Lille, Fac. Pharma. Lille, EA4483 IMPECS, 59000 Lille, France Ana Crespo Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain Cathy Cripps Plant Sciences &amp; Plant Pathology, 119 Plant Biosciences Building, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana 59717, U.S.A. Pedro W. Crous Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands Gladstone Alves da Silva Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Biociências, Avenida da Engenharia, S/N, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil Meiriele da Silva Universidade Federal de Viçosa, 36570-000, Viçosa, Minas Gerais, Brazil Marjo Dam Hooischelf 13, 6581 SL Malden, The Netherlands Nico Dam Hooischelf 13, 6581 SL Malden, The Netherlands Frank Dämmrich The Bavarian Natural History Collections (SNSB Munich), Menzinger Strasse 71, 80638, München, Germany Kanad Das Botanical Survey of India, Cryptogamic Unit, P.O. Botanic Garden, Howrah 711103, W.B., India Linda Davies Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom Eske De Crop Ghent University K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium Andre De Kesel Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium Ruben De Lange Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium Bárbara De Madrignac Bonzi Instituto de Botánica del Nordeste, Universidad Nacional de Nordeste-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Sargento Cabral 2131, CC 209, Corrientes Capital, Argentina Thomas Edison E. dela Cruz University of Santo Tomas, Espana 1008 Manila, Philippines Lynn Delgat Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Gent, Belgium Vincent Demoulin Institut de Botanique, B.22, Université de Liège, 4000 Liège I, Belgium Dennis E. Desjardin HD Thiers Herbarium (SFSU), San Francisco State University, 1600 Holloway Ave, San Francisco, California 94132, U.S.A. Paul Diederich Musée national d’histoire naturelle, 25 rue Münster, 2160 Luxembourg, Luxembourg Bálint Dima (1) Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, 1117 Budapest, Hungary; (2) Viikki Plant Science Centre, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, 00014 Helsinki, Finland Maria Martha Dios Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Catamarca, Av Belgrano 300, 4700 San Fernando del Valle de Catamarca, Argentina Pradeep Kumar Divakar Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040 Madrid, Spain Clovis Douanla-Meli Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Institute for National and International Plant Health, Messeweg 11-12, 38104 Braunschweig, Germany Brian Douglas Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB, United Kingdom Elisandro Ricardo Drechsler-Santos Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Campus Universitário Reitor João David Ferreira Lima, Trindade, Florianópolis, Santa Catarina CEP 88040-900, Brazil Paul S. Dyer School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, University Park, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom Ursula Eberhardt Abt. Botanik, Staatliches Museum für Naturkunde Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany Damien Ertz Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium Fernando Esteve-Raventós Facultad de Biología, Ciencias Ambientales y Química, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Javier Angel Etayo Salazar Navarro Villoslada 16, 3º dcha., 31003 Pamplona, Navarra, Spain Vera Evenson Sam Mitchel Herbarium of Fungi, Denver Botanic Gardens, 1007 York Street, Denver, Colorado 80206, U.S.A. Guillaume Eyssartier Muséum national d’histoire naturelle, Jardin des plantes, 57 rue Cuvier, 75005 Paris, France Edit Farkas Institute of Ecology and Botany, MTA Centre for Ecological Research, 2163 Vácrátót, Hungary Alain Favre Fédération Mycologique et Botanique Dauphiné Savoie, Le Prieuré, 144 Place de l’Eglise, 74320 Sevrier, France Anna G. Fedosova Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Prof. Popov Street, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia Mario Filippa Regione Monsarinero 36, 14041 Agliano Terme, Italy Péter Finy 8000 Székesfehérvár, Zsombolyai u. 56, Hungary Adam Flakus W. Szafer Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences, Lubicz 46, 31-512 Krakow, Poland Simón Fos Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universitat de València, C/Dr Moliner 50, 46100, Burjasot, Valencia, Spain Jacques Fournier Las Muros, F. 09420 Rimont, France André Fraiture Botanic Garden Meise, Nieuwelaan 38, 1860 Meise, Belgium Paolo Franchi Associazione Micologica Bresadola, Via Alessandro Volta 46, 38123 Trento, Italy Ana Esperanza Franco Molano Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, AA1226, Fundación Biodiversa Colombia, Medellín, Colombia Gernot Friebes Centre of Natural History, Botany &amp; Mycology, Universalmuseum Joanneum, Weinzöttlstraße 16, 8045 Graz, Austria Andreas Frisch NTNU, University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway Alan Fryday Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, U.S.A. Giuliana Furci The Fungi Foundation, Paseo Bulnes 79 of. 112A, Santiago, Chile Ricardo Galán Márquez Facultad de Biología, Ciencias Ambientales y Química, Universidad de Alcalá, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Matteo Garbelotto University of California, 130 Mulford Hall #3114 Berkeley, California 94720, U.S.A. Joaquina Maria Garcia-Martin Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC, Plaza de Murillo 2, 28014, Madrid, Spain Mónica A. García Otálora Herbaria Z+ZT, ETH Zürich, CHN D37, Universitätstr. 16, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland Dania García Sánchez Universitat Rovira i Virgili, C/ Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Tarragona, Spain Alain Gardiennet 14 rue Roulette, 21260 Véronnes, France Sigisfredo Garnica Instituto de Bioquímica y Microbiología, Universidad Austral de Chile, Isla Teja Campus, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile Isaac Garrido Benavent Real Jardín Botánico-CSIC, Plaza de Murillo 2, 28014, Madrid, Spain Genevieve Gates Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture, Private Bag 54, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia Alice da Cruz Lima Gerlach Conservatoire et Jardin Botaniques de la ville de Genève, Genève, Switzerland Masoomeh Ghobad-Nejhad Iranian Research Organization for Science and Technology, P.O. Box 15815-3538, Tehran 15819, Iran Tatiana B. Gibertoni Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Centro de Biociências, Avenida da Engenharia, S/N, Cidade Universitária, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil Tine Grebenc Slovenian Forestry Institute, Vecna pot 2, 100 Ljubljana, Slovenia Irmgard Greilhuber University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Vienna, Austria Bella Grishkan Institute of Evolution, University of Haifa, Aba Khoushi Ave. 199, Mt. Carmel, Haifa 3498838, Israel Johannes Z. Groenewald Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands Martin Grube Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Holteiasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria Gérald Gruhn Office National des Forêts, 2 Avenue de Saint-Mandé, 75570 Paris Cedex 12, France Cécile Gueidan CSIRO — Australian National Herbarium, Clunies Ross Street, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia Gro Gulden Natural History Museum, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1172 Blindern, 0318 Oslo, Norway Luis FP Gusmão Universidade Estadual de Feira de Santana, Av. Transnordestina, s/n, Bairro Novo Horizonte, CEP:44036-900, Feira de Santana, Bahia, Brazil Josef Hafellner Institute of Biology, University of Graz, Holteiasse 6, 8010 Graz, Austria Michel Hairaud 2 Impasse des Marronniers, 79360 Poivendre de Marigny, France Marek Halama Museum of Natural History, Wrocław University, ul. H. Sienkiewicza 5, 50-335 Wrocław, Poland Nils Hallenberg University of Gothenburg, Box 461, 40530 Göteborg, Sweden Roy E. Halling Institute of Systematic Botany, New York Botanical Garden, 2900 Southern Blvd, Bronx, New York 10458-5126, U.S.A. Karen Hansen Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden Christoffer Bugge Harder Texas Tech University, Box 42122, Lubbock, Texas 79409, U.S.A. Jacob Heilmann-Clausen Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 København, Denmark Stip Helleman Sweelinck 78, 5831KT Boxmeer, The Netherlands Alain Henriot Mycological Society of France, 20 rue Rottembourg, 12th arrondissement, Paris, France Margarita Hernandez-Restrepo Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, P.O. Box 85167, 3508 AD, Utrecht, The Netherlands Raphaël Herve 24 rue des Fougères, 86550 Mignaloux-Beauvoir, France Caroline Hobart 84 Stafford Road, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S2 2SF, United Kingdom Mascha Hoffmeister Julius Kühn-Institut, Institute for Epidemiology and Pathogen Diagnostics, Braunschweig, Germany Klaus Høiland University of Oslo, P.O.Box 1066, Blindern, 0316 Oslo, Norway Jan Holec National Museum, Herbarium PRM, Cirkusová 1740, 193 00 Praha 9, Czech Republic Håkon Holien Faculty of Bioscience and Aquaculture, NORD University, P.O. Box 2501, 7729 Steinkjer, Norway Karen Hughes University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, U.S.A. Vit Hubka Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01 Praha 2, Czech Republic Seppo Huhtinen Herbarium TUR, Biodiversity Unit, University of Turku, 20014 Turku, Finland Boris Ivančević Natural History Museum, Njegoševa 51, P.O. Box 401, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia Marian Jagers Reelaan 13, 7522 LR Enschede, The Netherlands Walter Jaklitsch Institute of Forest Entomology, Forest Pathology and Forest Protection, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Vienna, Vienna, Austria AnnaElise Jansen Stationsstraat 10, 6701 AM Wageningen, the Netherlands Ruvishika S. Jayawardena Mae Fah Luang University, Chang Wat Chiang Rai 57100, Thailand Thomas Stjernegaard Jeppesen Global Biodiversity Information Facility, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 København Ø, Denmark Mikael Jeppson Lilla Håjumsgatan 4, 46135 Trollhättan, Sweden Peter Johnston Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland 1072, New Zealand Per Magnus Jørgensen University of Bergen, Allégaten 41, P.O. Box 7800, 5020 Bergen, Norway Ingvar Kärnefelt Biological Museum, Lund University, Box 117, 221 00 Lund, Sweden Liudmila B. Kalinina Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Prof. Popov Street, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia Gintaras Kantvilas Tasmanian Herbarium (HO), Tasmanian Museum and Art Gallery, P.O. Box 5058, UTAS LP.O., Sandy Bay, Tasmania 7005, Australia Mitko Karadelev Institute of Biology, Faculty of Natural Science and Mathematics, Ss. Cyril and Methodius University, Arhimedova 5, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia Taiga Kasuya Faculty of Risk and Crisis Management, Chiba Institute of Science, 3 Shiomi-cho, Choshi, Chiba 288-0025, Japan Ivona Kautmanová Natural History Museum, Slovak National Museum, Bratislava, Slovakia Richard W. Kerrigan RWK Research, Kittanning, Pennsylvania 16201, U.S.A. Martin Kirchmair Institut für Mikrobiologie, Universität Innsbruck, Technikerstraße 25, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria Anna Kiyashko Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Prof. Popov Street, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia Dániel G. Knapp Institute of Biology, Eötvös Loránd University, Pázmány Péter sétány 1/c, 1117 Budapest, Hungary Henning Knudsen Natural History Museum of Denmark, Universitetsparken 15, 2100 København, Denmark Kerry Knudsen Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Life Sciences at Prague, Prague, Czech Republic Tommy Knutsson Nedra Västerstad 111, 380 62 Mörbylånga, Sweden Miroslav Kolařík Institute of Microbiology ASCR, Videnska 1083, 142 20 Prague 4, Czech Republic Urmas Kõljalg Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences, 40 Lai Street, Tartu 51005, Estonia Alica Košuthová Swedish Museum of Natural History, P.O. Box 50007, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden Attila Koszka Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvar University, 7400 Kaposvar, Hungary Heikki Kotiranta Finnish Environment Institute, P.O. Box 140, 00251 Helsinki, Finland Vera Kotkova Komarov Botanical Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, 2 Prof. Popov Street, St. Petersburg, 197376, Russia Ondřej Koukol Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benátská 2, 128 01 Praha 2,