Veerle Van Winden

• Winden, Veerle Van; Reveret, Alois; Xie, Congmiao & Frisch, Andreas (2025). Unveiling the Hidden World of Lichens:. Funga. 1(2025), s. 56–61. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Winden, Veerle Van (2025). Spatial Phylogenetic Diversity. doi: https:/www.bayareamushrooms.org/calendar.html. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Biodiversity is more than counting species, it’s about evolution. Incorporating spatial phylogenetics in fungal biodiversity assessment. Our first meeting this Fall will kick off (potential) new mycological research in California. The meeting will start with a presentation by Veerle van Winden, a Dutch PhD student, whose project focuses on the spatial phylogenetic diversity of the phyla Ascomycota and Basidiomycota in Norway. Using online observations, such as those logged on iNaturalist by professionals and amateurs, species occurrences are mapped across the country. Instead of simply counting species in a location, the team evaluates how closely related they are evolutionarily. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of diversity. For example, a field of ten closely related mushrooms from one genus may be less diverse than one containing five species from different families or genera. Veerle and her team are hoping to develop a similar spin-off study in California. Because such a project would be impossible without contributions from local mycologists, both professional and amateur, it would be wonderful to collaborate with BAMS to raise awareness and enthusiasm for the project. Brent Mishler, Distinguished Professor Emeritus in the Department of Integrative Biology and former Director of the University and Jepson Herbaria at the University of California, Berkeley, will lead a discussion on implementing this project for California fungi, and what it would take. Veerle van Winden is a PhD candidate at the Natural History Museum at the University of Oslo looking into fungal diversity in Norway. Her background is in bioinformatics and data science, being most comfortable when working with large datasets. One of the projects she focusses on in het PhD is "PhyloFun - Spatial Phylogenetics of Fungi for Biodiversity Management". With the PhyloFun project we aim to calculate spatial phylogenetic diversity fungi in Norway. We use online observations, such as those logged by professionals and amateurs, to map species occurrences across the country. Instead of simply counting the number of species in a location, we evaluate how closely related they are evolutionarily. This approach provides a more nuanced understanding of diversity which can be used for biodiversity management and conservation strategies.

• Winden, Veerle Van; Bendiksby, Mika; Naranjo-Ortiz, Miguel Angel & Bjorå, Charlotte Sletten (2025). PhyloFun - Spatial Phylogenetics of Fungi in Norway for Biodiversity Management. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Fungi are among the most understudied branches of life, despite their great diversity and crucial ecological roles. The PhyloFun project explores patterns of fungal diversity from an evolutionary perspective using Norway as a model. PhyloFun integrates occurrence records with phylogenetic information to carry out a spatial phylogenetic assessment. Occurrence data are harvested from various online data repositories, including both observational as well as specimens-based records. In addition, PhyloFun uses DNA sequence data systematically produced within the NorBol barcoding project combined with sequences harvested from GenBank. To reduce imbalance in taxon and marker sampling, PhyloFun also produces new DNA sequence data from both fungarium specimens and freshly collected materials. An existing, systematically organised framework, Nature in Norway (NiN), provides an important and innovative data source, with which to compare the distribution patterns of clades at all levels. With its extensive fungal occurrence data, its diverse habitat, and the NiN system Norway represents an ideal location to undertake this research. Focusing on Norway as a model system, the PhyloFun project hopes to assess how evolutionary relationships shape fungal community composition across spatial scales.

• Winden, Veerle Van; Bendiksby, Mika; Naranjo-Ortiz, Miguel Angel & Bjorå, Charlotte Sletten (2024). PhyloFun: spatial phylogenetics of fungi in Norway. doi: https:/www.forbio.uio.no/events/meeting/2024/biosystematikk_program.pdf. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The PhyloFun project aims to map the spatial distribution of fungal phylogenetic diversity and endemism across various Norwegian ecosystems by integrating molecular phylogenetic data with species occurrence records. The project pioneers the first spatial phylogenetic study of fungi, using Norway as a model system to explore the evolutionary and ecological diversity of these crucial organisms. Occurrence data will be combined with phylogenetic techniques to uncover patterns of phylogenetic diversity, identify environmental variables influencing these patterns, and assess spatial phylogenetic diversity across Norway's ecosystems. For this, we will supplement existing barcode data with newly generated sequences derived from Norway’s natural history collections. Besides the aim to fill a critical knowledge gap in fungal biodiversity, we also aim to enhance biodiversity management practices through phylogenetically informed conservation strategies. By integrating the Nature in Norway (NiN) framework with spatial phylogenetic methods, PhyloFun will provide novel insights into the distribution and ecological significance of fungi in Norway. The outcomes will set the stage for future parallel studies in other regions, such as California, and contribute to a broader understanding of global fungal diversity. PhyloFun will advance the field of biodiversity research, promoting a deeper understanding of the intrinsic and extrinsic factors which determine the diversity of fungi, as well as their evolutionary and ecological roles in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

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