Projects

BiodivMon
Monitoring and mapping fungal diversity for nature conservation (FunDive)

Fungi play a critical role in ecosystem functioning, providing key habitats and resources for other organisms, as well as regulating carbon cycling in terrestrial ecosystems. However, fungal conservation has been traditionally neglected, and fungi were not included in international conservation agreements. Recent developments in understanding fungi as networkers, recyclers, and symbionts in nature, as well as the emergence of citizen science and molecular tools for exploring fungal biodiversity, have increased the appreciation of fungi and their importance. Despite their potential synergies, citizen science and eDNA- based approaches to fungal biodiversity research have been developing in parallel tracks, hindering a comprehensive understanding of fungal life cycles and distribution. The FunDive project aims to bring these approaches together and evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, as well as provide a platform for consistent naming of fungal taxa. The project is divided into six interlinked Work Packages, which cover all three themes of the current Biodiversa call, including research questions related to fungal biodiversity patterns and their drivers, and the design of sensible monitoring programs. Lichenized fungi will also be considered, although to a lesser extent in some of the WPs due to geographic limitations of expertise and existing eDNA data. Overall, the FunDive project seeks to provide novel insight into fungal biodiversity and its conservation, and promote a more integrated approach to fungal research.

Project Webpage: https://fun-dive.eu/about-us/

Biodiversa Webpage: https://www.biodiversa.eu/2022/10/07/2022-2023-joint-call/