Prediction from patterns in biological invasions: Towards timely information for preventive risk assessments

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Human-mediated introductions of macrofungi worldwide: Distribution patterns and impacts

Publication . Monteiro, Miguel José Ascensão Freire Parada; Reino, Luís Miguel Nunes Valente Afonso; Capinha, César Dinis Santos; Ferreira, Maria Teresa Marques

Fungi remain one of the lesser-known kingdoms, both in terms of their ecology and their significance in invasive species research. This underrepresentation reflects limited knowledge about the distribution of these taxa as a whole, and most likely stems from many of these organisms being inconspicuous and difficult to identify. In this work, we specifically analyzed the biogeographical patterns and impacts of alien macroscopic fungi, a non-pathogenic fungal group composed mainly of ectomycorrhizal and saprotroph species with a huge lack of available information about their introductions. Firstly, we created a global repository of distribution records of macrofungi outside their native ranges. This enabled us to provide a detailed representation of the distribution of alien macrofungi worldwide. Furthermore, we carried out the first comprehensive evaluation of the spatio-temporal patterns of alien macrofungi distributions and how these patterns are driven and shaped by some geographical, socio-economic and climatic factors. Thus, it was possible to observe a considerable increase in the number of alien macrofungi species over time, but especially during the last century. In addition, economic development and mean annual temperature were found to drive regional differences in alien species richness, while geographic distance and thermal similarity were significant drivers of compositional similarities between regions. Finally, we also provided the first comprehensive global database on negative and positive impacts of alien macrofungi. It was observed that recorded impacts of these species encompass a wide variety of effects on humans, native and alien plant taxa, other fungi and animal species and soil biochemistry. Altogether, this work showed the constraints of studying some of the most unknown alien groups, presented methods to understand their current situation as well as gave some ideas and suggestions for further studies.

2023-10-24Tese de doutoramento

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Negative and positive impacts of alien macrofungi: a global scale database

Publication . Monteiro, Miguel; Capinha, César; Ferreira, Maria Teresa; Nuñez, Martin A.; Reino, Luís

Advances in ecological research during the last decades have led to an improved understanding of the impacts of alien species. Despite that, the effects of alien macrofungi have often received little attention and are still poorly understood. With the aim of reducing this knowledge gap, we compiled a database of the recorded socio-economic and environmental impacts of alien macrofungi. This database was compiled from all relevant sources we could identify, through an exhaustive literature review, considering the identity of known alien taxa and explicit indications of impacts of any kind. In total, 1440 records of both negative and positive impacts were collected for 374 distinct species in different regions of all continents, except Antarctica. The most frequently recorded impacts are related to the mutualistic interactions that these fungi can form with their host plants. In total 47.8% of all records refer to the indirect negative effect of these interactions, by facilitating the colonization of invasive plants, while 38.5% refer to their positive contribution to the growth of forestry species. Less frequently recorded negative impacts included ectomycorrhizal interactions with native plants, plant pathogenicity and human poisoning after ingestion. Additional positive impacts include the use as a food source by native species and human populations and commercial exploitation. Alien macrofungi are an increasingly prevalent component of human- dominated ecosystems, having a diverse array of negative and positive impacts on native biota and human population. Our database provided a first step towards the quantification and mapping of these impacts.

2023Artigo científico

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Entidade financiadora

Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia

Número da atribuição

SFRH/BD/119170/2016