ABSTRACT
The introduction and spread of exotic and invasive species is considered to be one of the most important problems currently faced in conservation biology. Following habitat destruction, invasive species are often listed among the most pressing threats to biodiversity and ecosystem functioning (Vitousek et al., 1996). The ecological, economic, and social consequences of exotic species have been extensively reviewed (e.g., Bright, 1999; Mack et al., 2000, 2002; Mooney and Hobbs, 2000; Pimentel et al., 2001; Baskin, 2002; Campbell and Schlarbaum, 2002; Meyerson and Reaser, 2003). How do fungi and fungal communities fit into the broader picture of invasion biology? When most people think of exotic and invasive fungi, their first thoughts turn toward destructive plant diseases, such as chestnut blight or Dutch elm disease. But many other fungi with assorted life histories are as likely as plant parasites to have been moved from one geographic location to another. What have been the ecological impacts of these movements of fungal species? Even less attention has been paid to the ecological impact of exotic plant, animal, and microbial species on native fungal species and communities.
