European mushroom assemblages are darker in cold climates

Franz-Sebastian Krah (), Ulf Büntgen, Hanno Schaefer, Jörg Müller, Carrie Andrew, Lynne Boddy, Jeffrey Diez, Simon Egli, Robert Freckleton, Alan C. Gange, Rune Halvorsen, Einar Heegaard, Antje Heideroth, Christoph Heibl, Jacob Heilmann-Clausen, Klaus Høiland, Ritwika Kar, Håvard Kauserud, Paul M. Kirk, Thomas W. Kuyper, Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber, Jenni Norden, Phillip Papastefanou, Beatrice Senn-Irlet and Claus Bässler ()
Additional contact information
Franz-Sebastian Krah: Technische Universität München
Ulf Büntgen: University of Cambridge
Hanno Schaefer: Technische Universität München
Jörg Müller: Bavarian Forest National Park
Carrie Andrew: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalléen 21
Lynne Boddy: Cardiff University
Jeffrey Diez: University of California
Simon Egli: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Robert Freckleton: University of Sheffield
Alan C. Gange: Royal Holloway, University of London
Rune Halvorsen: University of Oslo
Einar Heegaard: Norwegian Institute of Bioeconomy Research
Antje Heideroth: Bavarian Forest National Park
Christoph Heibl: Bavarian Forest National Park
Jacob Heilmann-Clausen: University of Copenhagen
Klaus Høiland: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalléen 21
Ritwika Kar: University of Tübingen
Håvard Kauserud: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalléen 21
Paul M. Kirk: Royal Botanic Gardens Kew
Thomas W. Kuyper: Wageningen University
Irmgard Krisai-Greilhuber: University of Vienna
Jenni Norden: Norwegian Institute for Nature Research, Gaustadalléen 21
Phillip Papastefanou: Technical University of Munich
Beatrice Senn-Irlet: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL
Claus Bässler: Bavarian Forest National Park

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-11

Abstract: Abstract Thermal melanism theory states that dark-colored ectotherm organisms are at an advantage at low temperature due to increased warming. This theory is generally supported for ectotherm animals, however, the function of colors in the fungal kingdom is largely unknown. Here, we test whether the color lightness of mushroom assemblages is related to climate using a dataset of 3.2 million observations of 3,054 species across Europe. Consistent with the thermal melanism theory, mushroom assemblages are significantly darker in areas with cold climates. We further show differences in color phenotype between fungal lifestyles and a lifestyle differentiated response to seasonality. These results indicate a more complex ecological role of mushroom colors and suggest functions beyond thermal adaption. Because fungi play a crucial role in terrestrial carbon and nutrient cycles, understanding the links between the thermal environment, functional coloration and species’ geographical distributions will be critical in predicting ecosystem responses to global warming.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10767-z

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