Fungal Communities in Various Environments, 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2025 | Viewed by 460

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Life Science, Kyonggi University, Suwon 16227, Republic of Korea
Interests: soil microbiome; microbial ecology; environmental microbiology; biogeography; biogeochemical cycles
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Guest Editor
College of Ocean and Meteorology, Guangdong Ocean University, Zhanjiang 524088, China
Interests: mangrove microbiome; microbial ecology; marine functional microbes; regional ecological security, biogeography, biogeochemical cycles
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Fungi, as key components of ecosystems, play pivotal roles in the decomposition of biomass and nutrient cycling, forming complex interactions with plants, animals, and other microorganisms, influencing ecological balance and the maintenance of biodiversity. In diverse environments, the composition and function of fungal communities display significant variations. These differences not only reflect the fungi’s adaptability to specific environmental disturbance, but also indicate the impact of environmental changes on ecosystem health. In this Special Issue, we look for studies that delve into the diversity and composition of fungal communities within a variety of environments—ranging from terrestrial to aquatic and from urban to extreme habitats. Additionally, we seek research that illuminates the vital ecological roles and functions that fungi perform, including, but not limited to, nutrient cycling, soil formation, plant symbiosis, and the decomposition of organic matter. We are also interested in studies examining how fungal communities adapt to environmental stresses, such as climate change, pollution, and habitat fragmentation. Furthermore, contributions that investigate the complex interactions between fungi and other organisms including plants, bacteria, and animals, showcasing the range of mutualistic, commensal, and parasitic relationships, are also welcomed.

Dr. Ke Dong
Prof. Dr. Nan Li
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • fungi
  • ecosystems
  • environmental stresses
  • community assembly
  • diversity and composition
  • ecological interactions
  • ecological functions

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Research

19 pages, 23863 KiB  
Article
Topographic Habitat Drive the Change of Soil Fungal Community and Vegetation Soil Characteristics in the Rhizosphere of Kengyilia thoroldiana in the Sanjiangyuan Region
by Liangyu Lyu, Pei Gao, Zongcheng Cai, Fayi Li and Jianjun Shi
J. Fungi 2025, 11(7), 531; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof11070531 - 17 Jul 2025
Viewed by 342
Abstract
This study aims to reveal the impact mechanisms of five typical topographic habitats in the Sanjiangyuan region (sunny slope, depression, shady slope, mountain pass, and transitional zone) on the characteristics and functions of rhizosphere soil fungal communities of Kengyilia thoroldiana, and to [...] Read more.
This study aims to reveal the impact mechanisms of five typical topographic habitats in the Sanjiangyuan region (sunny slope, depression, shady slope, mountain pass, and transitional zone) on the characteristics and functions of rhizosphere soil fungal communities of Kengyilia thoroldiana, and to elucidate the association patterns between these communities and soil physicochemical factors. The species composition, diversity, molecular co-occurrence network, and FUNGuild function of microbial communities were investigated based on high-throughput sequencing technology. By combining the Mantel test and RDA analysis, the key habitat factors affecting the structure of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere zone of Kengyilia thoroldiana were explored. The results showed that: ① The composition of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere of Kengyilia thoroldiana in five topographical habitats showed significant differentiation characteristics: the number of OTUs in H2 (depression) and H5 (transitional zone) habitats was the highest (336 and 326, respectively). Habitats H2 showed a significant increase in the abundance of Ascomycota and Mortierellomycota and a significant decrease in the abundance of Basidiomycota compared to the other topographical habitats. ② The diversity and aggregation degree of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere of Kengyilia thoroldiana in five topographical habitats showed differences. ③ Cluster analysis showed that the rhizosphere soil fungi in five topographical habitats of Kengyilia thoroldiana could be divided into two groups, with H2, H4 (mountain pass), and H5 habitats as one group (group 1) and H1 and H3 (shady slope) as one group (group 2). ④ The characteristics of the Kengyilia thoroldiana community and the physical and chemical properties of rhizosphere soil in five topographical habitats were significantly different, and the height, coverage, biomass, and soil nutrient content were the highest in H2 and H5 habitats, while lower in H1 and H3 habitats, with significant differences (p < 0.05). ⑤ Redundancy analysis showed that soil water content was the main driving factor to change the structure and function of the soil fungal community in the rhizosphere of Kengyilia thoroldiana in five topographic habitats in the Sanjiangyuan region. This study demonstrated that topographic habitats affected the species composition, functional pattern, and ecosystem service efficiency of the Kengyilia thoroldiana rhizosphere fungal community by mediating soil environmental heterogeneity, which provides microbial mechanistic insights for alpine meadow ecosystem protection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fungal Communities in Various Environments, 2nd Edition)
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