Diversity and distribution of ligninolytic fungi

Abstract

Ligninolytic fungi is a large and heterogeneous group of species, mainly from the two phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. They are the main players in the decomposition of wooden materials worldwide. In this chapter, the diversity and distribution of ligninolytic fungal species is presented. Attention is given to how the species diversity can be detected, as fungi are mainly living within their substrate and consequently may be difficult to observe. I present the current knowledge on how the species diversity originates, and the discovery of cryptic ligninolytic fungal species. I also focus on the distribution of ligninolytic fungi, both on how individuals are locally distributed on a single substrate of dead wood and on how species are distributed at larger scales. Across larger scales fungi are affected by the size and environmental conditions in local forests and large-scale climatic variables. The chapter ends with a discussion about conservation, with some perspectives for future research directions.