Biodiversity and Evolution of Fungal Parasites and Pathogens

Biodiversity and Evolution of Fungal Parasites and Pathogens presents an overview of the biodiversity and complexity of fungal communities that form associations as parasites or pathogens. With only 138,000 described species of fungi and an estimated number of up to 6.1 million, the Kingdom of Fungi is severely understudied. Among the least studied groups are those associated with organisms as parasites and pathogens. Written by an international team of more than 30 research experts, this book introduces devastating diseases such as Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Pseudogymnoascus destructans, which both have resulted in dramatic population declines of animal populations, specifically amphibians and bats.

In addition, the book discusses economically important parasites of plant crops and pathogens that cause lung infections in mammals. Finally, some of the least studied groups of fungal parasites and pathogens are treated, such as the enigmatic Laboulbeniomycetes fungi. This book is an important resource for researchers and practitioners in mycology, evolutionary biology and biodiversity. It will help readers explore the concept of symbioses by definition and introduce state-of-the-art tools, techniques and next-generation data.