Michael Davis
Mushrooms and other fungi are an important part of the ecosystem in arctic and alpine habitats. They enhance nutrient uptake in plants and replenish poor soils through decomposition. There are about 4,350 known fungal species in the Arctic, of which 2,600 are macrofungi and 1,750 are lichens. However, the total number of fungal species in the Arctic may exceed 13,000. Fungi are able to survive in the Arctic by decomposing organic remains and can grow in the absence of sunlight. They also play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility and have been the focus of extensive research in recent years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of fungal species in the Arctic | 4,350, of which 2,600 are macrofungi, 1,750 are lichens, and the rest are microfungi |
| Estimated number of fungal species in the Arctic | May exceed 13,000 |
| Number of fungal species in the Rocky Mountain alpine zone | 170 species of Basidiomycota in fifty-one genera and twenty families |
| Number of fungal species in the Beartooth Plateau | 422 species of alpine plants |
| Number of new fungal species found in the Canadian Arctic | 2 |
| Fungi's role in the Arctic | Enhance nutrient uptake in plants, replenish poor soils through decomposition, maintain soil fertility, and facilitate the fermentation of wine and beer, the ripening of cheeses, and the production of antibiotics and vitamins |
| Effects of climate change on Arctic fungi | Gradual but radical over time due to changes in vascular plant flora and vegetation, with potential consequences for ecosystem functions |
| Sensitivity of Arctic fungi to environmental perturbations | High, with potential impacts on entire forests or tundra grazing lands |
| Regions with well-documented alpine fungi | The Alps, Scandinavia, Iceland, Russia, Greenland, parts of Canada, and Alaska |
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What You'll Learn
Mushrooms are an important component of Arctic habitats
The Arctic tundra, a biome characterized by Arctic conditions and a lack of vegetation, is home to a diverse range of fungi. Every acre of Arctic tundra contains more than two tons of live fungi, showcasing their abundance. Fungi thrive in this environment as they can survive by decomposing organic remains and growing without sunlight. Cup fungi, club fungi, jelly fungi, and gilled mushrooms are some of the varieties found in the tundra.
The occurrence and distribution of lichenized fungi (lichens) in the Arctic are well-documented. However, less is known about non-lichenized fungi and microfungi. The known number of fungal species in the Arctic is approximately 4,350, but the total fungal species richness may exceed 13,000 due to their cryptic life forms. Arctic islands such as Svalbard, Iceland, and Greenland have been studied extensively for their mushroom diversity.
Climate change is expected to have gradual but significant effects on the diversity of Arctic fungi over time. Changes in vegetation will impact the distribution and composition of fungi, which will, in turn, affect ecosystem services such as nutrient uptake, decomposition, and long-term carbon sequestration in the soil. The conservation status of Arctic fungi is predicted to remain stable in the short term but will be greatly impacted in the long run.
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There are over 4000 known species of Arctic fungi
Fungi are one of the most species-rich groups of organisms in the Arctic. There are over 4,000 known species of Arctic fungi, with 2,600 being macrofungi and 1,750 being lichens, and the rest are microfungi. However, the total number of fungal species in the Arctic is likely to be much higher as many are yet to be discovered. For example, in 2019, scientists identified two new species of fungi in a rapidly melting glacier on Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic. One species, named Mrakia hoshinonis, was the tenth to join the genus Mrakia. The other, Vishniacozyma ellesmerensis, was the twelfth to join the genus Vishniacozyma. Both species are types of yeast that can grow in sub-zero temperatures.
The Arctic tundra, a biome characterized by Arctic conditions and a lack of vegetation, is home to a variety of fungi. Fungi are crucial to tundra ecosystems as they decompose organic remains, maintaining soil fertility. They also enhance nutrient uptake in plants and replenish poor soils through decomposition. Every acre of Arctic tundra contains more than two tons of live fungi.
Fungi in the Arctic have been studied for over 200 years, beginning with early sailing expeditions. However, the biodiversity of Arctic fungi is still not fully understood due to the extreme cold conditions of their habitats. Most of the known species are distributed outside the Arctic as well, particularly in alpine habitats in the Northern Hemisphere.
Climate change is expected to have a significant impact on the diversity and distribution of Arctic fungi over time. As the vegetation in the Arctic changes, the composition of fungal species will also transform, affecting their ecosystem functions.
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Climate change will have a profound effect on Arctic fungi
Fungi are one of the most species-rich groups of organisms in the Arctic. The tundra, a biome characterized by Arctic conditions and a relative lack of vegetation, is home to a variety of fungi, including mushrooms, lichens, cup fungi, club fungi, jelly fungi, and more. Every acre of Arctic tundra contains more than two tons of live fungi, highlighting their abundance and importance in these ecosystems.
Fungi play a crucial role in maintaining soil fertility by decomposing dead trees and plants. They are also capable of releasing nitrogen and phosphorus during this decomposition process, further contributing to the overall health of the tundra. However, the stability of these fungal communities is vulnerable to environmental perturbations, such as oil spills. If the stability of the fungi is compromised, it could have devastating consequences for the surrounding ecosystem, potentially destroying entire forests or tundra grazing lands.
Climate change is expected to have a profound and gradual impact on Arctic fungi, altering their distribution and composition. Studies have shown that long-term experimental summer warming has already affected the community composition and abundance of functional groups of Arctic fungi. The tundra type, particularly the moist tundra, has experienced significant changes in ectomycorrhizal, lichenized, and saprotrophic fungi, with a notable decline in these groups.
As climate change progresses, the expansion of shrubs and changes in vascular plant flora and vegetation will directly influence the composition and diversity of Arctic fungi. This, in turn, will affect the ecosystem services provided by fungi, such as nutrient uptake, decomposition, and long-term carbon sequestration in the soil. While the conservation status of Arctic fungi is predicted to remain stable in the short term, the long-term outlook suggests significant changes.
To better understand the complex dynamics between Arctic fungi and climate change, long-term funding is necessary to support research and monitoring. Next-generation sequencers, such as the Illumina platforms Miseq and Hiseq, have been employed to analyze fungal diversity in polar regions. However, the short sequence lengths of these platforms have limited their effectiveness in fully understanding fungal diversity at the species level. As a result, long-read next-generation sequencers, such as MinION and PacBio Sequel2, are being utilized to conduct more comprehensive fungal studies.
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Fungi are crucial to maintaining soil fertility in the Arctic
Fungi are a crucial component of life in the Arctic tundra. They are one of the most species-rich groups of organisms in the Arctic, with about 4,350 known species, including 2,600 macrofungi, 1,750 lichens, and the rest being microfungi. However, the total number of fungal species in the Arctic may exceed 13,000. Fungi play a vital role in maintaining soil fertility in the Arctic by decomposing organic remains, such as dead trees and plants, and releasing nitrogen and phosphorus into the soil. This decomposition process enhances nutrient uptake in plants and replenishes poor soils, supporting plant life in the cold Arctic biome.
The Arctic tundra is characterized by cold temperatures and a relative lack of vegetation. Fungi, including mushrooms, thrive in this environment due to their ability to survive without sunlight and feed on organic materials. They contribute significantly to the decomposition of wood and trees, with some species growing on wood debris and others forming associations with algae to create lichens. Lichens play a crucial role in the Arctic ecosystem by providing food and habitat for other organisms, such as caribou and reindeer.
Climate change is expected to have gradual but radical effects on the diversity of Arctic fungi over time. Changes in vascular plant flora and vegetation, particularly the expansion of shrubs, will impact the composition and distribution of fungal species. This, in turn, will affect the ecosystem services provided by fungi, such as nutrient uptake, decomposition, and long-term carbon sequestration in the soil. While the conservation status of Arctic fungi is predicted to remain stable in the short term, it is expected to change significantly in the long term.
Fungi in the Arctic have been studied for over 200 years, with early sailing expeditions exploring the biodiversity of arctic and alpine fungi in North America. More recent research has discovered new species of fungi in the retreating Arctic glaciers, highlighting the ongoing discovery and importance of fungi in these extreme habitats. The study of Arctic fungi is crucial for understanding their resistance to environmental perturbations, such as oil spills, and their role in maintaining the stability of forests and tundra grazing lands.
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Alpine fungi exist at high elevations above treeline
Alpine fungi exist at high elevations above the treeline, in mountaintop and plateau ecosystems. These cold-dominated regions are characterised by extreme cold, strong winds, and low oxygen levels, which prevent trees from growing. Despite these harsh conditions, alpine biomes are found on every continent except Antarctica, including well-known examples such as the Rocky Mountains in North America, the Andes in South America, the Alps in Europe, the Himalayas in Asia, and the Ethiopian Highlands in Africa.
Alpine fungi, including mushrooms and other fleshy varieties, play a crucial ecological role in these regions. They enhance nutrient uptake in alpine plants, decompose organic matter to replenish poor alpine soils, and act as pathogens that affect alpine plant populations. The study of alpine fungi, or alpine mycology, began in Europe, with Jules Favre's pioneering work in the Swiss National Park. However, significant knowledge gaps remain, especially regarding non-lichenized fungi and microfungi.
The occurrence of fungi above the treeline is notable because ectomycorrhizal fungi are typically associated with the roots of trees. At high elevations, these fungi associate with different host plants, such as Salix, Betula, and Dryas. The alpine biome's unique conditions also contribute to high local species richness, with some areas boasting about 50 lichen species within a small radius.
The conservation status of alpine fungi is currently stable but expected to change gradually over the long term due to climate change and vegetation shifts. These factors will impact the distribution and composition of fungi, affecting their ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling and decomposition. Understanding the characteristics that allow fungi to thrive in cold soils and their resistance to environmental perturbations is an active area of research for mycologists.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, mushrooms and other fleshy fungi are important components of arctic and alpine habitats. They enhance nutrient uptake in plants and replenish poor soils through decomposition.
Mushrooms grow in the tundra biome, which covers 8% of all land. They can also be found in the forests of Alaska and Russia, as well as other arctic locations.
There are an estimated 80,000 species of agaricales (gilled mushrooms) worldwide, and many of these can be found in the Arctic. Some specific types include cup/sac fungi, club fungi, jelly fungi, and coral fungi.
The Arctic is a cold and extreme environment, so the characteristics of tundra and forest fungi that allow them to thrive in these conditions are of particular interest to scientists. Climate change is also expected to have a significant impact on Arctic fungi over time.
Some Arctic mushrooms are edible, but extreme care must be taken when selecting wild mushrooms to eat, as some are deadly poisonous.
