MYCOLab Ai Logo - gold and army green

Diverse, Cryptic, and Undescribed: Club and Coral Fungi in a Temperate Australian Forest

Summary

Researchers surveyed fungi in a small forest area near Sydney and found that nearly 90% of the club and coral fungi they discovered were previously unknown to science. By using DNA analysis, they were able to identify cryptic species that look identical but are genetically distinct. This study demonstrates just how much fungal diversity remains undocumented even in well-studied parts of the world, highlighting the need for more comprehensive fungal surveys and database development.

Background

Fungi represent the most poorly described kingdom of eukaryotes, with only about 120,000 valid species names despite estimates of 2.2-10 million total species. Australia has particularly limited fungal documentation, with at least 75% of species remaining undescribed. Club and coral fungi are particularly understudied groups despite their ecological importance.

Objective

To assess fungal diversity gaps by intensively surveying club and coral fungi in a temperate Australian forest over two years. The study aimed to identify operational taxonomic units (OTUs) in Clavulinopsis, Ramaria, and Ramariopsis genera using ITS-based DNA barcoding and determine how many represent novel or undescribed taxa.

Results

The study identified 80 OTUs from field specimens, of which only 11.25% matched known species in DNA databases, suggesting approximately 90% were novel or undocumented taxa. Accumulation curves indicated only ~50% of actual species diversity was recovered, with seven times current sampling effort needed for exhaustion. Multiple cryptic species with similar morphology but distinct genetics were discovered in all three genera.

Conclusion

Even in a small area of less than 100 km², there is substantial evidence for multiple undescribed and cryptic fungal species, highlighting fundamental gaps in fungal taxonomy. The findings emphasize the critical need for increased mycological surveys, DNA sequencing of reference specimens, and integration of molecular identification with morphological analysis to understand true fungal biodiversity.
  • Published in:Journal of Fungi (Basel),
  • Study Type:Field Survey with Molecular Analysis,
  • Source: PMID: 40985397, DOI: 10.3390/jof11070502
Scroll to Top