Global patterns in endemicity and vulnerability of soil fungi
Authors: Tedersoo Leho , Mikryukov Vladimir , Zizka Alexander , Bahram Mohammad , Hagh‐Doust Niloufar , Anslan Sten , Prylutskyi Oleh , Delgado‐Baquerizo Manuel , Maestre Fernando T. , Pärn Jaan , Öpik Maarja , Moora Mari , Zobel Martin , Espenberg Mikk , Mander Ülo , Khalid Abdul Nasir , Corrales Adriana , Agan Ahto , Vasco‐Palacios Aída‐M. , Saitta Alessandro , Rinaldi Andrea C. , Verbeken Annemieke , Sulistyo Bobby P. , Tamgnoue Boris , Furneaux Brendan , Ritter Camila Duarte , Nyamukondiwa Casper , Sharp Cathy , Marín César , Gohar Daniyal , Klavina Darta , Sharmah Dipon , Dai Dong Qin , Nouhra Eduardo , Biersma Elisabeth Machteld , Rähn Elisabeth , Cameron Erin K. , De Crop Eske , Otsing Eveli , Davydov Evgeny A. , Albornoz Felipe E. , Brearley Francis Q. , Buegger Franz , Zahn Geoffrey , Bonito Gregory , Hiiesalu Inga , Barrio Isabel C. , Heilmann‐Clausen Jacob , Ankuda Jelena , Kupagme John Y. , Maciá‐Vicente Jose G. , Fovo Joseph Djeugap , Geml József , Alatalo Juha M. , Alvarez‐Manjarrez Julieta , Põldmaa Kadri , Runnel Kadri , Adamson Kalev , Bråthen Kari Anne , Pritsch Karin , Tchan Kassim I. , Armolaitis Kęstutis , Hyde Kevin D. , Newsham Kevin K. , Panksep Kristel , Lateef Adebola A. , Tiirmann Liis , Hansson Linda , Lamit Louis J. , Saba Malka , Tuomi Maria , Gryzenhout Marieka , Bauters Marijn , Piepenbring Meike , Wijayawardene Nalin , Yorou Nourou S. , Kurina Olavi , Mortimer Peter E. , Meidl Peter , Kohout Petr , Nilsson Rolf Henrik , Puusepp Rasmus , Drenkhan Rein , Garibay‐Orijel Roberto , Godoy Roberto , Alkahtani Saad , Rahimlou Saleh , Dudov Sergey V. , Põlme Sergei , Ghosh Soumya , Mundra Sunil , Ahmed Talaat , Netherway Tarquin , Henkel Terry W. , Roslin Tomas , Nteziryayo Vincent , Fedosov Vladimir E. , Onipchenko Vladimir G. , Yasanthika W. A. Erandi , Lim Young Woon , Soudzilovskaia Nadejda A. , Antonelli Alexandre , Kõljalg Urmas , Abarenkov Kessy 
Published: August 2022

AbstractFungi are highly diverse organisms, which provide multiple ecosystem services. However, compared with charismatic animals and plants, the distribution patterns and conservation needs of fungi have been little explored. Here, we examined endemicity patterns, global change vulnerability and conservation priority areas for functional groups of soil fungi based on six global surveys using a high‐resolution, long‐read metabarcoding approach. We found that the endemicity of all fungi and most functional groups peaks in tropical habitats, including Amazonia, Yucatan, West‐Central Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Caledonia, with a negligible island effect compared with plants and animals. We also found that fungi are predominantly vulnerable to drought, heat and land‐cover change, particularly in dry tropical regions with high human population density. Fungal conservation areas of highest priority include herbaceous wetlands, tropical forests, and woodlands. We stress that more attention should be focused on the conservation of fungi, especially root symbiotic arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi in tropical regions as well as unicellular early‐diverging groups and macrofungi in general. Given the low overlap between the endemicity of fungi and macroorganisms, but high conservation needs in both groups, detailed analyses on distribution and conservation requirements are warranted for other microorganisms and soil organisms.