An investigation into 94 species of fungi concluded that nine species of fungi are already threatened or close to it.
“These species represent isolated lineages, with unique evolutionary histories accumulated over millions of years, which means that their extinction would not just be another loss of biodiversity, but rather the disappearance of entire branches of the history of life on Earth”, according to the
94 species of fungi belonging to monotypic genera were analyzed, groups that include only a single known species, and the results reveal “a worrying scenario: nine species are already threatened or close to it, while the majority, 56, do not have sufficient information to assess their conservation status”.
“Only 28 were classified as low risk. For researchers, this lack of knowledge is, in itself, one of the biggest warning signs.”
For Susana Cunha, study coordinator and PhD student in Biosciences at UC and Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew, in the United Kingdom, “the data deficiency reflects serious gaps in knowledge about these organisms.”
“In many cases, species are only known through their original description, made more than a decade ago, without any record since then”, explained the expert, warning that the planet could “be losing unique species without even being aware of it”.
The researcher considered that, despite their fundamental role for life on Earth, namely in the decomposition of organic matter and in the regulation of nutrient cycles, fungi remain largely absent from global conservation priorities.
“Unlike what happens with animals and plants, there is still no list that identifies the most evolutionarily distinct and threatened species of fungi, a gap that researchers consider urgent to fill.”
According to the study, the lack of data results from years of underinvestment in mycological research and that, “Without basic information on distribution, ecology and diversity, it becomes difficult to integrate fungi into conservation policies and ensure their effective protection.”
To reverse this trend, the authors advocate increased investment in basic research, including field inventories, and the use of innovative tools such as environmental DNA, which can help reveal the presence of difficult-to-detect species.
The researchers also recommend that unique species be subjected to molecular analyzes to confirm their isolated position in the tree of life and, whenever their unique character is confirmed, “become a priority in conservation”, because, without “concerted action, the world risks losing an irreplaceable part of its natural heritage, often before we even know it”.
