This fourth edition addresses many of the questions related to the observations, characterizations, and functional attributes of fungal assemblages and their interaction with the environment and other organisms.

Integrating genomics and metagenomics into community analysis. Changing the species concept. Molecular methods for fungal identification. Metagenomics, transcriptomics and proteomics. Recent advances in fungal endophyte research. Host switching and speciation in Cordicipitaceae. Endophytes and plant stress protection. Endophytes and defensive mutualism. Ecologies of endophytes (life styles of endophytes). Fungal communities in natural ecosystems. Terrestrial communities. Marine and Aquatic communities. Fungal Faunal Interactions. Below ground trophic interactions. Fungal propagule dispersal. Entomopathogenic fungi. Emerging fungal diseases. Bark beetle fungal interactions. Fungal communities and climate change and pollution. Climate change. Metal and organic pollutants. Invasive plant diseases. Fungal conservation. Harvesting practices and impacts. State of fungal conservation around the world. Fungi in the built envitonment. Decomposition of structures. Molds asthmas and allergies. Spoilage of human artefacts (paper, film etc.). Fungal communities in stresses environments (space station, Antarctic structures, etc.). Fungal signaling and communication. Mycorrhizal network as a communication system. Plant fungal communications. Plant animal communication. Fungal bacterial communication.