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Open research questions in Lichen and fungal ecology

155 gap statements mined from Lichen and fungal ecology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 601 papers on the topic — drawn mostly from each paper's own stated research gap, future-work, challenge and limitation notes, and its abstract. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one.

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What the literature leaves open

  • The analysis reveals a need to consider the multifactorial influences of environmental gradients on lichen growth. The study highlights the importance of considering the habitat specialization of L. pulmonaria in understanding its growth dynamics.

    Environmental, reproductive, and nutrient drivers of three-dimensional growth in the forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria · 2026 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for further research on the evolution of GATA TFs in the green lineage. The authors note that the quality of algal and fungal GATA TFs protein sequences varies widely.

    Structural Features of Algal and Fungal GATA Transcription Factors may Play a Role in Symbiosis · 2026 · DOI

  • Few studies have attempted to comprehensively connect harvesting conditions with wood characteristics like color or practical applications. Remaining knowledge gaps, particularly in predictive modeling and veneer-specific studies.

    The Habitats of European Oak (Quercus) in Poland and General Oak Wood Color Issues · 2025 · DOI

  • The number of fungal species has been the subject of numerous recent review articles, but the exact number is still unknown. The classification of Sordariomycetes has changed drastically over the past decade. There is a need for accurate identification and classification of fungal species.

    Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition: Editorial · 2025 · DOI

  • The study highlights the need for careful sample preparation and analysis to ensure accurate results.

    Radioactive Contaminants in Edible Mushrooms: A Comparative Study of 137Cs and Natural Radionuclides in Amasya and Tekirdağ, Türkiye · 2025 · DOI

  • The limited number of studies that cover a wide geographical range and diverse phorophyte species. The lack of understanding of the host preference of epiphytic lichens in the Mediterranean region. The need for a study that incorporates a high number of host species and epiphytic lichens.

    High Host Preferences in Epiphytic Lichens Across Diverse Phorophyte Species in the Mediterranean Region · 2025 · DOI

  • The lack of supporting DNA sequence data for some species hinders their classification. The identification of secondary metabolites and photobionts requires specialized techniques and equipment.

    Taxonomic Revision of Solorina (Peltigeraceae, Ascomycota), Reveals a New Genus and Three New Species · 2025 · DOI

  • The polyphyly of Solorina has not been fully addressed. The taxonomic revision of Solorina is incomplete. The phylogenetic relationships within Solorina are not well understood.

    Taxonomic Revision of Solorina (Peltigeraceae, Ascomycota), Reveals a New Genus and Three New Species · 2025 · DOI

  • The diversity of fungi in lichens remains understudied. Research into the presence of these organisms in lichens remains limited.

    Mycobiomes of Six Lichen Species from the Russian Subarctic: A Culture-Independent Analysis and Cultivation Study · 2025 · DOI

  • The photobionts of lichenized basidiomycetes remain poorly understood compared with those of many lichenized ascomycetes.

    Elliptochloris, not Coccomyxa, is the photobiont of three lichenized Multiclavula species in Japan · 2026 · DOI

  • In epiphytic lichens and bryophytes, environmental filtering and spatial structure are known to shape community patterns, yet their roles at fine spatial scales remain poorly understood.

    Effects of habitat quality and fine‐scale spatial structure on epiphytic lichen and bryophyte communities · 2026 · DOI

  • Future research should explore how these communities interact with other components of green roof ecosystems.

    Community assembly of mosses, lichens, and succulents across a green roof chronosequence in Malmö Sweden · 2026 · DOI

  • However, the knowledge linking bryophyte and lichen species diversity with TreMs is still scarce.

    Links between species richness of bryophytes and lichens and tree-related microhabitats on retention trees · 2025 · DOI

  • Our findings demonstrate a higher frequency of asymptomatic colonization than previously reported, emphasizing the need for further research into their ecological roles and interactions.

    Diversity of tremellalean Pertusaria-associated fungi in Norway and the role of secondary metabolites in host specificity · 2025 · DOI

  • The diversity and host relationships of lichen-inhabiting tremellalean fungi remain understudied, partly due to their asymptomatic yeast phase.

    Diversity of tremellalean Pertusaria-associated fungi in Norway and the role of secondary metabolites in host specificity · 2025 · DOI

  • The role of remnant forests in supporting biodiversity within production forest landscapes remains poorly understood.

    Remnant continuity forests are essential for sustaining epiphytic biodiversity in boreal production forest landscapes · 2025 · DOI

  • This is a common vegetation type at high latitudes and altitudes, yet little is known about ecophysiological responses to winter warming events in lichens, and how it may differ from responses in bryophytes and vascular plants.

    Lichens are more tolerant against winter warming stress than vascular and non‐vascular plants: Insights from an alpine field experiment · 2025 · DOI

  • Although Botryolepraria occurs worldwide, the construction of its unique somatic form has not been examined in detail.

    Construction of the lichenized aerial mycelium in Botryolepraria (Verrucariales; Eurotiomycetes; Ascomycota): A somatic structure unique among fungi · 2025 · DOI

  • PREMISE: Fire is a key ecological process that shapes ecosystems globally, yet fire adaptation strategies remain unclear for many species, especially for ground lichens that are reliant on pyrogenic landscapes but are evidently fire-intolerant.

    Fire avoidance and long‐term population decline in the endangered Florida ground lichen Cladonia perforata within a pyrogenic habitat · 2025 · DOI

  • Lichens were able to take up nitrate ions; however, their ability to assimilate these ions remains unclear.

    Hydration-driven metabolic activity enhances the resilience of Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. to nitrate stress · 2025 · DOI

  • Lichens and bryophytes (collectively termed cryptogams here) contribute substantially to biodiversity in almost all terrestrial ecosystems, but their response to disturbance from recreation has rarely been studied.

    Recreational trails reduce lichen and bryophyte diversity and the occurrence of rare species · 2026 · DOI

  • The paper identifies a gap in the understanding of the terpene profiles of Pinus taxa and their variation across different species, conditions, and factors. The paper also identifies a gap in the understanding of how external factors, such as industrial pollution and ecological factors, influence the terpene profile of a plant.

    Diversity of Needle Terpenes Among Pinus Taxa · 2025 · DOI

  • Continued exploration of freshwater ascomycetes - Further study of the biodiversity of microfungi associated with peach branch diseases - Investigation of the diversity of microfungi on oil tree…

    Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition: Editorial · 2025 · DOI

  • Investigating responses to environmental change, - Guiding conservation efforts for L.

    Environmental, reproductive, and nutrient drivers of three-dimensional growth in the forest lichen Lobaria pulmonaria · 2026 · DOI

  • Further research is needed to fully understand the factors that influence the terpene profile of pine taxa - Studies on the terpene profiles of other plant species could provide valuable insights - Research on the effects of industrial pollution and ecological factors on terpene profiles could be…

    Diversity of Needle Terpenes Among Pinus Taxa · 2025 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Lichen and fungal ecology

Most recent work

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This page shows what the Lichen and fungal ecology literature already flags as unresolved. To narrow it to your specific question, search the Research Gap Finder: the search is free with a free account and lists the papers closest to your topic first. Unlocking that topic (50 credits, charged once) fills the comparison table from our 4.5M-paper local library and writes the gaps from its rows.

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Open questions raised by papers listed on this page include: (1) The photobionts of lichenized basidiomycetes remain poorly understood compared with those of many lichenized ascomycetes (“Elliptochloris, not Coccomyxa, is the photobiont of three lichenized…”, 2026); (2) In epiphytic lichens and bryophytes, environmental filtering and spatial structure are known to shape community patterns, yet their roles at fine spatial scales remain poorly understood (“Effects of habitat quality and fine‐scale spatial structure on epiphytic lichen…”, 2026); (3) Future research should explore how these communities interact with other components of green roof ecosystems (“Community assembly of mosses, lichens, and succulents across a green roof…”, 2026); (4) The number of fungal species has been the subject of numerous recent review articles, but the exact number is still unknown (“Ascomycota: Diversity, Taxonomy and Phylogeny, 2nd Edition: Editorial”, 2025); (5) The lack of understanding of the host preference of epiphytic lichens in the Mediterranean region (“High Host Preferences in Epiphytic Lichens Across Diverse Phorophyte Species in…”, 2025). 155 gap statements have been mined from Lichen and fungal ecology papers in our 4.5M-paper local library, which holds 601 papers on the topic; the gaps come from whichever of those papers state one. They are mostly the research gaps the authors state and the papers' abstracts, plus future-work, limitations and challenges passages. The ones listed below are a selection still marked open; each names the study that raised it, with a DOI link where the paper has one, so you can read the original claim in context.

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