Filling the knowledge gap, sample by sample: freshwater ascomycete fungi in Indiana, and the value of partnerships and networks

We know that freshwater biodiversity loss is occurring at an unprecedented rate: around one-quarter of freshwater fish, Odonata, and freshwater crabs, shrimp and crayfish are threatened with extinction. However, even in many well-studied parts of the world, we know very little or nothing about the status and trends of freshwater fungi. Aquatic fungi are vitally important to the health of our freshwaters but they are also vastly understudied, so much so that many species are not yet described or even discovered. They do not feature (yet) in conservation plans and conservation decision-making, and in general, we are simply unaware of aquatic fungi. Over the past couple of years, several important projects and groups have become established to address this deficit in aquatic fungi knowledge, including the IUCN SSC Aquatic Fungi Specialist Group. To support their efforts here in Indiana, we embarked on a project to collect, isolate and identify freshwater ascomycete fungi from submerged wood in aquatic habitats of Indianapolis, the White River and further afield. This baseline information provides a crucial first step for bio-monitoring activities and habitat restoration, so that freshwater ascomycetes, and hence clean water, can be conserved. Samples were taken from 37 sites in Indiana and have so far given insight into 20 taxa of aquatic fungi present in our freshwaters, including one new genus to science. Additionally, we continue to work on highlighting freshwater fungi and their role in the ecosystem through networking with conservation and freshwater organizations here in Indiana, networking with other ongoing freshwater projects to boost our ability to sample the state, and engaging students and the public about the project and that fungi exist in our waterways. In this talk, we will summarize our project activities so far and draw some lessons learned on how to boost the conservation of organisms that pretty much nobody knows about.