Fungal responses to global climate change: distribution, function, and threats in natural and agricultural systems

Fungal biology lies at the crossroads of ecology, environmental science, and agriculture, providing vital insights into how organisms respond to global change. The advance of climate change has led to fundamental shifts in temperature and precipitation patterns, driving profound alterations in the distributions and functioning of many biological communities, including fungi. While the effects of a warming planet on macro-organisms and ecosystem-level processes are increasingly well understood, fungal communities, often termed the funga, pose unique challenges in terms of tracking species distribution, community composition, and the roles they play in ecosystems and agriculture. This complexity is heightened by the cryptic nature of many fungi, their sometimes dramatic population fluctuations, and the emergence of new pathogenic species affecting crops and forests. Recent studies have documented altered phenology, dispersal strategies, and reproductive patterns in fungal populations, as well as the rise of novel plant-fungal interactions. However, the dynamic responses of both forest and grassland fungal communities, and the rapid emergence of new agricultural pathogens, are not yet fully understood. Although there are ongoing longer-term monitoring efforts, substantial gaps remain in our understanding of the interactions between climate drivers and fungal biodiversity, dispersal, and ecosystem function. These gaps hinder our ability to predict risks, manage conservation priorities, and anticipate agricultural challenges related to changing fungal assemblages. This Research Topic aims to consolidate and advance knowledge on the diverse responses of fungal communities to climate change. By assembling long-term monitoring data, experimental research, and new reports on emerging fungal species, the Theme seeks to highlight the extent and mechanisms of fungal redistribution, shifts in ecosystem roles, and threats posed to agriculture and forestry. The goal is to facilitate an integrated understanding of how climate-induced changes in the funga affect species interactions, ecosystem health, and food security; while identifying effective strategies for monitoring and mitigation. To gather further insights in the rapidly evolving relationship between fungal communities and global climate change, we welcome articles that focus on both natural and managed ecosystems, with an emphasis on empirically documented changes and mechanistic research. In particular, we invite contributions on, but not limited to, the following themes: Impact of climate change on the composition and functioning of forest and grassland fungal communities. The appearance, and ecological impacts of new fungal species in an area. Alterations in fungal dispersal strategies and fruiting behavior driven by a changing climate. Dynamics of funga in agricultural areas, including emergence of new pathogens, and transformations in host-parasite and fungi-mycorrhizal partner relationships. Methods and challenges for long-term monitoring of fungal community changes under climate change scenarios. This research topic encourages submissions of original research articles, reviews, and methods papers within the theme. Topic editors: Ferenc Pál-Fám, József Geml, Katalin Somfalvi-Tóth Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/79767/fungal-responses-to-global-climate-change-distribution-function-and-threats-in-natural-and-agricultural-systems