Abstract: The PREDICTS project—Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems ( https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/our-work/biodiversity/predicts.html )—has collated from published studies a large, reasonably representative database of comparable samples of biodiversity from multiple sites that differ in the nature or intensity of human impacts relating to land use. We have used this evidence base to develop global and regional statistical models of how local biodiversity responds to these measures. We describe and make freely available this 2016 release of the database, containing more than 3.2 million records sampled at over 26,000 locations and representing over 47,000 species. We outline how the database can help in answering a range of questions in ecology and conservation biology. To our knowledge, this is the largest and most geographically and taxonomically representative database of spatial comparisons of biodiversity that has been collated to date; it will be useful to researchers and international efforts wishing to model and understand the global status of biodiversity.

Abstract: Biodiversity continues to decline in the face of increasing anthropogenic pressures such as habitat destruction, exploitation, pollution and introduction of alien species. Existing global databases of species’ threat status or population time series are dominated by charismatic species. The collation of datasets with broad taxonomic and biogeographic extents, and that support computation of a range of biodiversity indicators, is necessary to enable better understanding of historical declines and to project – and avert – future declines. We describe and assess a new database of more than 1.6 million samples from 78 countries representing over 28,000 species, collated from existing spatial comparisons of local‐scale biodiversity exposed to different intensities and types of anthropogenic pressures, from terrestrial sites around the world. The database contains measurements taken in 208 (of 814) ecoregions, 13 (of 14) biomes, 25 (of 35) biodiversity hotspots and 16 (of 17) megadiverse countries. The database contains more than 1% of the total number of all species described, and more than 1% of the described species within many taxonomic groups – including flowering plants, gymnosperms, birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, beetles, lepidopterans and hymenopterans. The dataset, which is still being added to, is therefore already considerably larger and more representative than those used by previous quantitative models of biodiversity trends and responses. The database is being assembled as part of the PREDICTS project (Projecting Responses of Ecological Diversity In Changing Terrestrial Systems – https://www.nhm.ac.uk/our-science/our-work/biodiversity/predicts.html ). We make site‐level summary data available alongside this article. The full database will be publicly available in 2015.

Abstract: Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia , Aschersonia mackerrasiae on whitefly, Cladosporium corticola on bark of Melaleuca quinquenervia , Penicillium nudgee from soil under Melaleuca quinquenervia , Pseudocercospora blackwoodiae on leaf spot of Persoonia falcata , and Pseudocercospora dalyelliae on leaf spot of Senna alata . Bolivia , Aspicilia lutzoniana on fully submersed siliceous schist in high-mountain streams, and Niesslia parviseta on the lower part and apothecial discs of Erioderma barbellatum onatwig. Brazil , Cyathus bonsai on decaying wood, Geastrum albofibrosum from moist soil with leaf litter, Laetiporus pratigiensis on a trunk of a living unknown hardwood tree species, and Scytalidium synnematicum on dead twigs of unidentified plant. Bulgaria , Amanita abscondita on sandy soil in a plantation of Quercus suber . Canada , Penicillium acericola on dead bark of Acer saccharum , and Penicillium corticola on dead bark of Acer saccharum . China , Colletotrichum qingyuanense on fruit lesion of Capsicum annuum . Denmark , Helminthosphaeria leptospora on corticioid Neohypochnicium cremicolor. Ecuador (Galapagos) , Phaeosphaeria scalesiae on Scalesia sp. Finland , Inocybe jacobssonii on calcareouss oils in dry forests and park habitats. France , Cortinarius rufomyrrheus on sandy soil under Pinus pinaster , and Periconia neominutissima on leaves of Poaceae . India , Coprinopsis fragilis on decaying bark of logs, Filoboletus keralensis on unidentified woody substrate, Penicillium sankaranii from soil, Physisporinus tamilnaduensis on the trunk of Azadirachta indica , and Poronia nagaraholensis on elephant dung. Iran , Neosetophoma fic on infected leaves of Ficus elastica . Israel , Cnidariophoma eilatica (incl. Cnidariophoma gen. nov.) from Stylophora pistillata . Italy , Lyophyllum obscurum on acidic soil. Namibia , Aureobasidium faidherbiae on dead leaf of Faidherbia albida , and Aureobasidium welwitschiae on dead leaves of Welwitschia mirabilis . Netherlands , Gaeumannomycella caricigena on dead culms of Carex elongata , Houtenomyces caricicola (incl. Houtenomyces gen. nov.) on culms of Carex disticha , Neodacampia ulmea (incl. Neodacampia gen. nov.) on branch of Ulmus laevis , Niesslia phragmiticola on dead standing culms of Phragmites australis , Pseudopyricularia caricicola on culms of Carex disticha , and Rhodoveronaea nieuwwulvenica on dead bamboo sticks. Norway , Arrhenia similis half-buried and moss-covered pieces of rotting wood in grass-grownpath. Pakistan , Mallocybe ahmadii on soil. Poland , Beskidomyces laricis (incl. Beskidomyces gen. nov.) from resin of Larix decidua ssp. polonica , Lapidomyces epipinicola from sooty mould community on Pinus nigra , and Leptographium granulatum from a gallery of Dendroctonus micans on Picea abies . Portugal , Geoglossum azoricum on mossy areas of laurel forest areas planted with Cryptomeria japonica , and Lunasporangiospora lusitanica from a biofilm covering a bio deteriorated limestone wall. Qatar , Alternaria halotolerans from hypersaline sea water, and Alternaria qatarensis from water sample collected from hypersaline lagoon. South Africa , Alfaria thamnochorti on culm of Thamnochortus fraternus , Knufia aloeicola on Aloe gariepensis , Muriseptatomyces restionacearum (incl. Muriseptatomyces gen. nov.) on culms of Restionaceae , Neocladosporium arctotis on nest of cases of bagworm moths( Lepidoptera, Psychidae ) on Arctotis auriculata , Neodevriesia scadoxi on leaves of Scadoxus puniceus , Paraloratospora schoenoplecti on stems of Schoenoplectus lacustris , Tulasnella epidendrea from the roots of Epidendrum × obrienianum , and Xenoidriella cinnamomi (incl. Xenoidriella gen. nov.) on leaf of Cinnamomum camphora . South Korea , Lemonniera fraxinea on decaying leaves of Fraxinus sp. frompond. Spain , Atheniella lauri on the bark of fallen trees of Laurus nobilis , Halocryptovalsa endophytica from surface-sterilised, asymptomatic roots of Salicornia patula , Inocybe amygdaliolens on soil in mixed forest, Inocybe pityusarum on calcareous soil in mixed forest, Inocybe roseobulbipes on acidic soils, Neonectria borealis from roots of Vitis berlandieri × Vitis rupestris , Sympoventuria eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus sp., and Tuber conchae fromsoil. Sweden , Inocybe bidumensis on calcareous soil. Thailand , Cordyceps sandindaengensis on Lepidoptera pupa, buried in soil, Ophiocordyceps kuchinaraiensis on Coleoptera larva, buried in soil, and Samsoniella winandae on Lepidoptera pupa, buriedinsoil. Taiwan region (China) , Neophaeosphaeria livistonae on dead leaf of Livistona rotundifolia . Türkiye , Melanogaster anatolicus on clay loamy soils. UK , Basingstokeomyces allii (incl. Basingstokeomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Allium schoenoprasum . Ukraine , Xenosphaeropsis corni on recently dead stem of Cornus alba. USA , Nothotrichosporon aquaticum (incl. Nothotrichosporon gen. nov.) from water, and Periconia philadelphiana from swab of coil surface. Morphological and culture characteristics for these new taxa are supported by DNA barcodes.

Abstract: Six DNA regions were evaluated as potential DNA barcodes for Fungi , the second largest kingdom of eukaryotic life, by a multinational, multilaboratory consortium. The region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 used as the animal barcode was excluded as a potential marker, because it is difficult to amplify in fungi, often includes large introns, and can be insufficiently variable. Three subunits from the nuclear ribosomal RNA cistron were compared together with regions of three representative protein-coding genes (largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, second largest subunit of RNA polymerase II, and minichromosome maintenance protein). Although the protein-coding gene regions often had a higher percent of correct identification compared with ribosomal markers, low PCR amplification and sequencing success eliminated them as candidates for a universal fungal barcode. Among the regions of the ribosomal cistron, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region has the highest probability of successful identification for the broadest range of fungi, with the most clearly defined barcode gap between inter- and intraspecific variation. The nuclear ribosomal large subunit, a popular phylogenetic marker in certain groups, had superior species resolution in some taxonomic groups, such as the early diverging lineages and the ascomycete yeasts, but was otherwise slightly inferior to the ITS. The nuclear ribosomal small subunit has poor species-level resolution in fungi. ITS will be formally proposed for adoption as the primary fungal barcode marker to the Consortium for the Barcode of Life, with the possibility that supplementary barcodes may be developed for particular narrowly circumscribed taxonomic groups.

Abstract: Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Algeria , Phaeoacremonium adelophialidum from Vitis vinifera . Antarctica , Comoclathris antarctica from soil. Australia , Coniochaeta salicifolia as endophyte from healthy leaves of Geijera salicifolia , Eremothecium peggii in fruit of Citrus australis , Microdochium ratticaudae from stem of Sporobolus natalensis , Neocelosporium corymbiae on stems of Corymbia variegata , Phytophthora kelmanii from rhizosphere soil of Ptilotus pyramidatus , Pseudosydowia backhousiae on living leaves of Backhousia citriodora , Pseudosydowia indooroopillyensis , Pseudosydowia louisecottisiae and Pseudosydowia queenslandica on living leaves of Eucalyptus sp. Brazil , Absidia montepascoalis from soil. Chile , Ilyonectria zarorii from soil under Maytenus boaria . Costa Rica , Colletotrichum filicis from an unidentified fern. Croatia , Mollisia endogranulata on deteriorated hardwood. Czech Republic , Arcopilus navicularis from tea bag with fruit tea, Neosetophoma buxi as endophyte from Buxus sempervirens , Xerochrysium bohemicum on surface of biscuits with chocolate glaze and filled with jam. France , Entoloma cyaneobasale on basic to calcareous soil, Fusarium aconidiale from Triticum aestivum , Fusarium juglandicola from buds of Juglans regia . Germany , Tetraploa endophytica as endophyte from Microthlaspi perfoliatum roots. India , Castanediella ambae on leaves of Mangifera indica , Lactifluus kanadii on soil under Castanopsis sp., Penicillium uttarakhandense from soil. Italy , Penicillium ferraniaense from compost. Namibia , Bezerromyces gobabebensis on leaves of unidentified succulent, Cladosporium stipagrostidicola on leaves of Stipagrostis sp., Cymostachys euphorbiae on leaves of Euphorbia sp., Deniquelata hypolithi from hypolith under a rock, Hysterobrevium walvisbayicola on leaves of unidentified tree, Knufia hypolithi and Knufia walvisbayicola from hypolith under a rock, Lapidomyces stipagrostidicola on leaves of Stipagrostis sp., Nothophaeotheca mirabibensis (incl. Nothophaeotheca gen. nov.) on persistent inflorescence remains of Blepharis obmitrata , Paramyrothecium salvadorae on twigs of Salvadora persica , Preussia procaviicola on dung of Procavia sp., Sordaria equicola on zebra dung, Volutella salvadorae on stems of Salvadora persica . Netherlands , Entoloma ammophilum on sandy soil, Entoloma pseudocruentatum on nutrient poor (acid) soil, Entoloma pudens on plant debris, amongst grasses. New Zealand , Amorocoelophoma neoregeliae from leaf spots of Neoregelia sp., Aquilomyces metrosideri and Septoriella callistemonis from stem discolouration and leaf spots of Metrosideros sp., Cadophora neoregeliae from leaf spots of Neoregelia sp., Flexuomyces asteliae (incl. Flexuomyces gen. nov.) and Mollisia asteliae from leaf spots of Astelia chathamica , Ophioceras freycinetiae from leaf spots of Freycinetia banksii , Phaeosphaeria caricis-sectae from leaf spots of Carex secta . Norway , Cuphophyllus flavipesoides on soil in semi-natural grassland, Entoloma coracis on soil in calcareous Pinus and Tilia forests, Entoloma cyaneolilacinum on soil semi-natural grasslands, Inocybe norvegica on gravelly soil. Pakistan , Butyriboletus parachinarensis on soil in association with Quercus baloot . Poland , Hyalodendriella bialowiezensis on debris beneath fallen bark of Norway spruce Picea abies . Russia , Bolbitius sibiricus on а moss covered rotting trunk of Populus tremula , Crepidotus wasseri on debris of Populus tremula , Entoloma isborscanum on soil on calcareous grasslands, Entoloma subcoracis on soil in subalpine grasslands, Hydropus lecythiocystis on rotted wood of Betula pendula , Meruliopsis faginea on fallen dead branches of Fagus orientalis , Metschnikowia taurica from fruits of Ziziphus jujube , Suillus praetermissus on soil, Teunia lichenophila as endophyte from Cladonia rangiferina . Slovakia , Hygrocybe fulgens on mowed grassland, Pleuroflammula pannonica from corticated branches of Quercus sp. South Africa , Acrodontium burrowsianum on leaves of unidentified Poaceae , Castanediella senegaliae on dead pods of Senegalia ataxacantha , Cladophialophora behniae on leaves of Behnia sp., Colletotrichum cliviigenum on leaves of Clivia sp., Diatrype dalbergiae on bark of Dalbergia armata , Falcocladium heteropyxidicola on leaves of Heteropyxis canescens , Lapidomyces aloidendricola as epiphyte on brown stem of Aloidendron dichotomum , Lasionectria sansevieriae and Phaeosphaeriopsis sansevieriae on leaves of Sansevieria hyacinthoides , Lylea dalbergiae on Diatrype dalbergiae on bark of Dalbergia armata , Neochaetothyrina syzygii (incl. Neochaetothyrina gen. nov.) on leaves of Syzygium chordatum , Nothophaeomoniella ekebergiae (incl. Nothophaeomoniella gen. nov.) on leaves of Ekebergia pterophylla , Paracymostachys euphorbiae (incl. Paracymostachys gen. nov.) on leaf litter of Euphorbia ingens , Paramycosphaerella pterocarpi on leaves of Pterocarpus angolensis , Paramycosphaerella syzygii on leaf litter of Syzygium chordatum , Parateichospora phoenicicola (incl. Parateichospora gen. nov.) on leaves of Phoenix reclinata , Seiridium syzygii on twigs of Syzygium chordatum , Setophoma syzygii on leaves of Syzygium sp., Star­merella xylocopis from larval feed of an Afrotropical bee Xylocopa caffra , Teratosphaeria combreti on leaf litter of Combretum kraussii , Teratosphaericola leucadendri on leaves of Leucadendron sp., Toxicocladosporium pterocarpi on pods of Pterocarpus angolensis . Spain , Cortinarius bonachei with Quercus ilex in calcareus soils, Cortinarius brunneovolvatus under Quercus ilex subsp. ballota in calcareous soil, Extremopsis radicicola (incl. Extremopsis gen. nov.) from root-associated soil in a wet heathland, Russula quintanensis on acidic soils, Tubaria vulcanica on volcanic lapilii material, Tuber zambonelliae in calcareus soil. Sweden , Elaphomyces borealis on soil under Pinus sylvestris and Betula pubescens . Tanzania , Curvularia tanzanica on inflorescence of Cyperus aromaticus . Thailand , Simplicillium niveum on Ophiocordyceps camponoti-leonardi on underside of unidentified dicotyledonous leaf. USA , Calonectria californiensis on leaves of Umbellularia californica , Exophiala spartinae from surface sterilised roots of Spartina alterniflora , Neophaeococcomyces oklahomaensis from outside wall of alcohol distillery. Vietnam , Fistulinella aurantioflava on soil. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes.

Abstract: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common disorder characterized by chronic abdominal pain and changes in bowel movements. Visceral hypersensitivity is thought to be responsible for pain complaints in a subset of patients. In an IBS-like animal model, visceral hypersensitivity was triggered by intestinal fungi, and lower mycobiota α-diversity in IBS patients was accompanied by a shift toward increased presence of Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae . Yet, this shift was observed in hypersensitive as well as normosensitive patients and diversity did not differ between IBS subgroups. The latter suggests that, when a patient changes from hyper- to normosensitivity, the relevance of intestinal fungi is not necessarily reflected in compositional mycobiota changes. We now confirmed this notion by performing ITS1 sequencing on an existing longitudinal set of fecal samples. Since ITS1 methodology does not recognize variations within species, we next focused on heterogeneity within cultured healthy volunteer and IBS-derived C. albicans strains. We observed inter- and intra-individual genomic variation and partial clustering of strains from hypersensitive patients. Phenotyping showed differences related to growth, yeast-to-hyphae morphogenesis and gene expression, specifically of the gene encoding fungal toxin candidalysin. Our investigations emphasize the need for strain-specific cause-and-effect studies within the realm of IBS research.