ABSTRACT
Fungi are heterotrophic, eukaryotic organisms with, generally, a hyphal growth form, reproducing by means of spores (Kendrick 2000). Fungi are not a monophyletic group. The kingdom Eumycota (“true” fungi) comprises several fungal phyla,
Basidiomycota, Ascomycota, Zygomycota, Chytridiomycota, and a recently defined phylum, Glomeromycota (formerly part of the Zygomycota). In addition there are also several fungal phyla that are not related to eumycotan fungi, the most germane of which to the current discussion is the phylum Oomycota. There are several members of the Oomycota that are important pathogens of crop plants (e.g.,
Phytophthora
spp.). There are some important phylum-level characteristics that could be used to make general predictions about responses of different groups to forcers of climate change. For example, members of the phylum Oomycota, which possess flagellated zoospores, may be more sensitive to changes in precipitation than members of the Basidiomycota. However, there are also vast ecophysiological differences within phyla or even narrowly defined fungal groups that make sweeping generalizations difficult.
