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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
• A research team from the University of Freiburg and the Black Forest National Park is conducting a meta-study to investigate which fungal species community has developed around the spruce bark beetle.
•The study evaluates more than 80 years of research and provides the first comprehensive overview of the mycobiome, the fungal community that lives in, on and with the European spruce bark beetle.
•The results have broadened understanding about the interaction between species and natural dynamics in the forest and have provided important impetus for future forest conservation.
A research team led by Dr Vienna Kowallik and Prof. Dr Peter Biedermann from the Chair of Forest Entomology and Protection, in collaboration with Dr Flavius Popa from the Black Forest National Park, has produced a meta-study that provides the first comprehensive overview of the mycobiome, or fungal community, of the large eight-toothed spruce bark beetle or European spruce bark beetle. The study evaluates more than 80 years of research and shows how diverse and ecologically relevant the fungal community associated with the beetle is. The results thus expand our understanding of the interaction between species and natural dynamics in the forest and provide important impetus for future forest protection.
“A total of 712 fungal species from 58 scientific studies were documented. Of these, 14 species can be classified as a core community. These were found throughout the entire distribution area of the spruce bark beetle spanning from Western Europe to East Asia,” explains Popa. Another 150 species are considered potential core communities, meaning they only occur in part of the distribution area. “Around 77% of the fungi are passively associated. These species have no known close connection to the beetle, but still play important and diverse roles in forest ecology,” says Kowallik.
The study highlights the ecological importance of the spruce bark beetle mycobiome
The results show that the European spruce bark beetle cannot be viewed in isolation, but rather is part of a highly complex microbial network. The 14 fungal species in the core community are often plant pathogens that can contribute to tree mortality, or symbiotic yeasts that may influence the beetles' nutrition and vitality. At the same time, the many other passively associated fungi play an important role in the subsequent decomposition of the wood and thus in closing the nutrient cycle in the forest. The meta-study thus provides a scientific basis for better understanding forests in the context of climate change, biodiversity and disturbance dynamics and for protecting them sustainably. “This knowledge is particularly crucial for management outside protected areas because it significantly expands our understanding of interactions between species and natural dynamics in the forest. And our study only looks at one beetle species out of thousands,” Popa emphasises.
DNA methods increase proven fungal diversity
The study also highlights that previous research has been heavily influenced by traditional methods. Only six of 58 studies used modern genetic methods based on detecting and identifying the DNA of fungi on beetles. However, these few newer approaches have significantly increased the proven diversity of fungi. “Our study illustrates how indispensable modern molecular genetic methods have become for biology. They provide a previously inaccessible view of the fungal diversity associated with the European spruce bark beetle – beyond the cultivability of the species,” says Kowallik. At the same time, comparison with classic culture-based data confirms that both methodological approaches have their own strengths. “By combining such complementary techniques, it is possible to paint a more comprehensive and realistic picture of the symbiotic relationship between the beetle and fungi,” explains Kowallik.
Further international research data needed
Around 90 per cent of the fungal species recorded originate from European studies, primarily from Central and Northern Europe. Asian regions, which are characterised by different ecological and climatic conditions, are currently significantly underrepresented. “It is precisely these global differences that make the topic so exciting. The interactions between beetles, fungi and trees are sensitive to climate and environmental conditions. In order to better understand future bark beetle dynamics, we need internationally comparable and interdisciplinary research approaches,” says Biedermann.
The complete article about the study (Open Access): https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2025.16...
https://uni-freiburg.de/en/overview-study-decodes-the-fungal-network-of-the-spru...
Close-up of a spruce bark beetle on tree bark
Copyright: S. M. Tanin
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Biology, Environment / ecology, Zoology / agricultural and forest sciences
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Close-up of a spruce bark beetle on tree bark
Copyright: S. M. Tanin
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