Phylogeny and conservation

[robert fogel]

I find it interesting that keystone species are not included in this
thread.  Fungi for example determine the structure and function of many
terrestrial ecosystems.  Mycorrhizal fungi may control dispersal and
establishment of plants, composition of plant community, nutrient
cycling (especially C and P) and their reproductive structures may be an
important food for rodents.  Pathogenic fungi may control community
composition and density and alter ecosystem structure and function
(chestnut blight but one example).  Europe has listed many mycorrhizal
fungi as threatened or rare due to habitat destruction and atmospheric
pollution.  In the USA, the NBS does not want to deal with fungi. I
believe only one species (found in old-growth PNW forests) is listed.

Similar arguments could be made for bacteria (e.g., N-fixing symbionts).

"Bioprospecting" more often than not focuses on identifying microbes
producing novel compounds (antibiotics, drugs, enzymes, etc.)

We need to abandon the Noah's Arc approach (Price) and take an ecosystem
approach to conservation.

Robert Fogel
Curator of Fungi
Professor of Biology