Extremophilic fungi at the interface of climate change

Abstract Kingdom fungi include microscopic as well as macroscopic forms in all possible known habitats. Fungi are sensitive to climate perturbations and present climate itself is getting influenced by fungi. Environmental change is perceived differently by different ecosystems and is not homogeneous around the globe. Fungi inhabiting extreme environments that are prone to climate change can go locally extinct or adapt to cope up with the changed environment. To date, only certain number of fungi is classified, however advanced sequencing approach has broadened the scope globally to describe the uncultivable forms, dwelling in extreme environments. Fungi place itself separately from other microbial domain in terms of highest biomass, DNA and metabolic potential; therefore, it deserves special attention in the scenario of climate change. However, fungi inhabiting ecosystems that are less prone to climate change could be harnessed for their excellent metabolic potential due to the peculiar make up of their genome. This chapter is an effort to discuss extreme habitats in context of fungal diversity, their adaptability and mitigation options associated with climate change affecting fungi and vice versa.