After the publication of Volume IV in 1997, the introduction of molecular methods into ecology led to significant new findings. Emphasizing these advances, the chapters for the second edition have been completely updated and revised. This volume provides insight into current research on fungal populations and communities. It focuses on fungal responses to the physical environment, interactions with other fungi, microorganisms and invertebrates, the role of fungi in ecosystem processes such as decomposition and nutrient cycling, and aspects of biogeography and conservation. Several chapters deal with various applications in, e.g. biological pest control, natural products discovery, and the degradation of toxic organic compounds. This is an invaluable source of information both for scientists who wish to update their knowledge of current progress and for graduate students interested in obtaining a first overview of this field of research.

Life History and Genetic Strategies- 1 Evolutionary ecology of the first fungi- J.H. Andrews and R.F. Harris- 2 Molecular approaches for studying fungi in the environment- K. Brunner, S. Zeilinger and R.L. Mach - Determinants of Fungal Communities- 3 Disturbances in natural ecosystems: scaling from fungal diversity to ecosystem functioning- S.J. Morris, C.F. Friese, and M.F. Allen- 4 Fungal Responses to Disturbance: agriculture and forestry- R.M. Miller and D.J. Lodge- 5 Fungi and industrial pollutants- G.M. Gadd- 6 Fungí in extreme environments- N. Magan- 7 Biogeography and conservation- E.J.M. Arnolds - Fungal Interactions and Biological Control Strategies- 8 Mycoparasitism and antagonism- A. Viterbo, J. Inbar, Y. Hadar and I. Chet- 9 Antagonism of plant parasitic nematodes by fungi- S. Casas-Flores and A. Herrera-Estrella- 10 Entomopathogenic Fungi and their role in Pest Control- A.K. Charnley and S. A. Collins- 11 Bacterial weapons of fungal destruction: Phyllosphere targeted biological control of plant pathogens- W. G. Dilantha Fernando, R. Ramarathnam and T. de Kievit- 12 Effects of animals grazing on fungi

T. McGonigle- 13 Endophytic Fungi- P. Bayman- 14 Mycorrhizal fungi: their habitats and nutritional strategies- M. Girlanda, S. Perotto and P. Bonfante- 15 Applications of fungal ecology in the search for new bioactive fungal products- J.B. Gloer - Decomposition, Biomass and Industrial Applications- 16 Nutrient cycling by saprophytic fungi in terrestrial habitats- J. Dighton- 17 Decomposition of plant litter by fungi in marine and freshwater ecosystems- M.O. Gessner, V. Gulis, K. Kuehn, E. Chauvet and K. Suberkropp - 18 Degradation of cellulose and hemicellulose polymers by fungi- C. Gamauf, B. Metz and B. Seiboth