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Fungi are among the most diverse and ecologically important kingdoms in life. However, the distributional ranges of fungi remain largely unknown as do the ecological mechanisms that shape their distributions1,2. To provide an integrated view of the spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi, we implemented a globally distributed standardized aerial sampling of fungal spores3. The vast majority of operational taxonomic units were detected within only one climatic zone, and the spatiotemporal patterns of species richness and community composition were mostly explained by annual mean air temperature. Tropical regions hosted the highest fungal diversity except for lichenized, ericoid mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi, which reached their peak diversity in temperate regions. The sensitivity in climatic responses was associated with phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that large-scale distributions of some fungal groups are partially constrained by their ancestral niche. There was a strong phylogenetic signal in seasonal sensitivity, suggesting that some groups of fungi have retained their ancestral trait of sporulating for only a short period. Overall, our results show that the hyperdiverse kingdom of fungi follows globally highly predictable spatial and temporal dynamics, with seasonality in both species richness and community composition increasing with latitude. Our study reports patterns resembling those described for other major groups of organisms, thus making a major contribution to the long-standing debate on whether organisms with a microbial lifestyle follow the global biodiversity paradigms known for macroorganisms4,5.

ABSTRACTMost known brown rot–producing species of Polyporales belong to the so-called “Antrodia clade” that largely consists of poroid species. In this study, we use three genetic markers to revise Antrodias. str., the core group of this clade. We show that a corticioid species with a smooth hymenophore, Phlebia griseoflavescens, belongs to Antrodias. str. Accordingly, we revise the generic concept of Antrodias. str. to accommodate this species and two recently described poroid taxa, A. tenerifensisand A. multiformis. In addition, we describe two new poroid species within Antrodias. str., A. latebrosafrom Africa and A. peregrinafrom East Asia, and provide new documentation for the Southeast Asian species A. parvulabased on recent collections from the type location.

Tropical rainforests present high biodiversity, including high numbers of unknown fungal species. During a fungal survey in continuous near-natural rainforests in natural reserve of Kaw, French Guiana, we collected a remarkable polypore, characterized by a lateral stipe and numerous small black scales on its flabelliform pileus. It is here described asPolyporus minutosquamosus, nova species. In phylogenetic trees, based on combined ITS and partial nLSU rDNA sequences, it is nested within thePolyporus sensu lato clade, but does not belong to any of the four subclades distinguished within this clade. A key to species of genusPolyporusin tropical America is provided.