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Fungi are among the most diverse and ecologically important kingdoms in life. However, the distributional ranges of fungi remain largely unknown as do the ecological mechanisms that shape their distributions1,2. To provide an integrated view of the spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi, we implemented a globally distributed standardized aerial sampling of fungal spores3. The vast majority of operational taxonomic units were detected within only one climatic zone, and the spatiotemporal patterns of species richness and community composition were mostly explained by annual mean air temperature. Tropical regions hosted the highest fungal diversity except for lichenized, ericoid mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungi, which reached their peak diversity in temperate regions. The sensitivity in climatic responses was associated with phylogenetic relatedness, suggesting that large-scale distributions of some fungal groups are partially constrained by their ancestral niche. There was a strong phylogenetic signal in seasonal sensitivity, suggesting that some groups of fungi have retained their ancestral trait of sporulating for only a short period. Overall, our results show that the hyperdiverse kingdom of fungi follows globally highly predictable spatial and temporal dynamics, with seasonality in both species richness and community composition increasing with latitude. Our study reports patterns resembling those described for other major groups of organisms, thus making a major contribution to the long-standing debate on whether organisms with a microbial lifestyle follow the global biodiversity paradigms known for macroorganisms4,5.

ABSTRACTAn anthostomella-like fungus associated with dead palm rachis (Arecaceae) was collected in Nang Lae Village, Chiang Rai Province, Thailand. It is characterised by solitary, scattered ascomata beneath a clypeus, centric ostioles, pedicellate, unitunicate asci, and dark, olivaceous-brown ascospores. Multigene phylogenetic analyses (ITS-LSU-rpb2-tub2) revealed that our isolates formed a distinct clade in Xenoanthostomella(Gyrothricaceae, Xylariales), sister to X. chromolaenae, X. cycadis, X. olivacea, and X. parvispora. Based on its distinct morphology compared with related taxa having semi-immersed ascomata, cylindrical and short pedicellate asci, oblong to narrow ellipsoid ascospores with a straight germ slit, and multigene phylogeny, a new anthostomella-like taxon is introduced as Xenoanthostomella thailandica. A comprehensive description and illustrations of the new taxon, a synopsis of morphological characteristics and illustrations of anthostomella-like genera accepted in Xylariomycetidaeare provided.