Functional analyses of soil fungi

To address functional diversity of fungi in ecosystems, we relate the composition of fungal communities to their functional diversity and adaptation to their environment. We apply a scale concept to study fungal communities in natural and managed systems such as forests, grasslands and agroforestry systems and  use controlled experiments with model organisms to study mechanisms of adaptation. Environmental stresses we are particularly interested in are elevated atmospheric ozone concentrations as well as climatic extremes such as altered water regimes in ecosystems. Methodically, we have a focus on extracellular fungal enzymes as key for biological functions and how they are influenced by environmental stress. A new topic is the influence of environmental conditions on the allergenic potential of cell components such as cell walls of fungi.