Fungi in Multi-Taxon Analysis: the experience of PRIN project MultiForDiv

Temperate forests across Europe provide vital ecosystem services, including carbon storage, water regulation, and habitat provision. However, these forests face significant threats due to global changes, such as climate shifts and human-induced disturbances. Biodiver sity conservation is a central goal of national and international policies, yet many aspects of forest diversity, particularly those of understorey plants, fungi, included lichenized fungi (or lichens), remain poorly understood. These organisms are crucial for ecosystem function ing and highly sensitive to environmental and anthropogenic pressures on both short,- and long-term scales. The aim of the project is to understand patterns and drivers of multi-taxon forest diversity (lichens, vascular plants, fungi, etc.) of the Italian forests, through the sites belonging to the International Co-operative Programme on Assessment and Monitoring of Air Pollution Effects on Forests LII network. This study focuses on the functional diversity of soil fungi, key players in nutrient cycling and forest resilience. Soil samples from various italian plots were collected and analyzed using dilution plating to quantify and identify fungal strains. Functional traits, such as xerotolerance, thermotolerance, and solubilization of phosphates, were assessed to explore their ecological roles and responses to environmental variables. To understand patterns and drivers of multi-taxon diversity, we integrated data on microclimate conditions, soil properties, forest structural characteristics, and lichenized fungi diversity. This functional approach, which goes beyond traditional species-based indicators, recognizes the diverse ecological roles that different species play. So far, a total of four plots have been sampled, with 1018 colony forming units counted, corresponding to 121 morphotypes. The results aim to provide a more comprehensive understanding of forest biodiversity, supporting conservation strategies and sustainable forest management in the face of global change. This research was carried out within the framework of the PRIN 2022 MultiForDiv Project cod 2022A42HL4.