
The Tree of Life Initiative
Building on the success of PAFTOL, the Tree of Life initiative is expanding and populating the tree of life for plants and fungi.
PAFTOLExploring the diversity and evolution of the world’s fungi.
All life depends on plants, but all plants depend on fungi. With their multiple ecological roles (e.g. as decomposers, symbionts, pathogens), fungi are fundamental to life on Earth. Yet knowledge of fungal biology lags far behind that of plants.
Kew has a strong track record in fungal diversity research and is home to the largest fungarium in the world, holding over 1.25 million fungal specimens. The Comparative Fungal Biology team combines fundamental taxonomic expertise with modern molecular approaches and ecological perspectives. Our research ranges from baseline diversity studies in biodiversity hotspots through to reconstructing the fungal tree of life, with a special emphasis on evolution and ecology of
lifestyles and symbiotic interactions.
We have special expertise in lichens, mycorrhizal fungi and ant-farmed fungi, and use these as model groups to address broader questions related to determinants of diversity, community ecology and global change
Senior research leader
Dr Ester Gaya
Research leaders
Dr Laura Martinez-Suz
Early career research fellows
Dr Raquel Pino-Bodas
Research assistants
Dr Rosie Woods
Plants and Fungal Trees of Life Outreach officer
Rich Wright
Darwin Tree of Life Project Manager
Dr Brian Douglas
Honorary research associates
Prof Martin I Bidartondo
Dr David Hawksworth
Dr Jill Kowal
PhD students
Ricardo Arraiano-Castilho
Rowena Hill
Theo Llewellyn
Building on the success of PAFTOL, the Tree of Life initiative is expanding and populating the tree of life for plants and fungi.
PAFTOLWith species under threat from climate change and human development, genetic data can help conserve global biodiversity for future generations.
DTOLUnderstanding Colombia’s useful plants and fungi to improve people’s livelihoods, reducing inequality and gender gap by boosting its bioeconomy through the sustainable use of its biodiversity.
UPFCThis project is designed to explore the diversity of the Kingdom Fungi in Boyacá, Colombia.
Boyacá’s Forgotten KingdomInvestigating fungal mycorrhizas and their plant hosts across elevational and latitudinal gradients in Alpine ecosystems.
Plant-fungal interactions