Current position

Scientific staff of the “Biodiversity” research group within the research unit “Biodiversity and Conservation Biology

Responsible for the national data center “swissfungi”, which aims to provide distribution maps and ecological characteristics for all fungal species in Switzerland.

Academic education & positions

2013-2016 Postdoc at ETH Zurich, within the research group Forest Pathology and Dendrology
2010-2013 Doctor of Science in Biology ETH Zurich, within the research group “Forest Pathology and Dendrology”. Thesis: Reproduction system and population structure of Hymennoscyphus pseudoalbidus, causal agent of ash dieback
2009 Internship Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape Research WSL
2004-2009 Bachelor/ Master of Science in Biology, Plant Science, University of Zurich

Research interests

My main research interests circle around ecology, biodiversity and the conservation biology of fungi. To date we still know little about the distribution and ecology of most fungi – too little to establish efficient conservation measures for specific species or species groups. In addition, the taxonomy and phylogenetic position of fungi is often still based on morphology alone which has proven insufficient to resolve certain taxonomic groups.

Me and my colleagues main tool to increase the missing knowledge is a fungal records database for Switzerland including taxonomic, phenological and ecological data for each species. Using this database and making use of modern genetic and phylogenetic techniques I would like to answer questions like: Are morphological and genetic data congruent between certain fungal groups and if not, can we find and define new morphological characters to help amateur mycologists to cope with the outcome of genetic analyses? Which are the characteristic species of specific habitats (e.g. different forest-, grassland- or wetland types)? What determines the rarity of a species? What is the effect of climate change on fungal communities? Can we establish efficient conservation measures for certain species or species groups?

Projects

Is the White-backed Woodpecker an umbrella species - i.e. a species whose protection ensures the survival of the entire species community? In order to answer this question, the lichen and fungal diversity in known territories of the White-backed Woodpecker will be determined in addition to deadwood insects and breeding birds.

WSL is participating in a forest reserve monitoring project for fungi in the canton of Ticino. In addition to traditional fruiting body surveys by the canton of Ticino, SwissFungi will survey fungal diversity using eDNA from spore traps in the forest reserve of Lodano (TI).

In this project, a species inventory of xylobiont beetles and fungi in spruce and fir-spruce natural forest reserves is carried out in comparison to managed stands. The monitoring has the aim to evaluate the effectiveness of forest reserves.

On behalf of the Canton of Bern, this project is developing an action plan for the protected and highly endangered Pink Waxcap (_Hygrocybe calyptriformis_).

The Swiss Fungus Data and Information Centre SwissFungi supports an innovative book and app project by Haupt Verlag and the mushroom book author duo Ruedi Winkler and Gaby Keller.

In collaboration with HAFL, SwissFungi is surveying the diversity of deadwood fungi in the Jorat Nature Park (VD), while HAFL is looking after the diversity of saproxylic beetles.

The first Red List of Switzerland's macrofungi was published in 2007. Within the framework of this project, a reassessment of the threat levels of Swiss macrofungi is being carried out on behalf of the FOEN.

Within the framework of this long-term project, we collect data on alien fungi in Switzerland, advise the Confederation and the cantons, and develop basic principles for practical application.

Intraspecific genetic diversity is a component of biodiversity that is often overlooked. Therefore, GenDiB sets out to compile the basic principles for establishing a new database comprising data on genetic diversity in populations of wild species in Switzerland.

The Scientific Commission of the Swiss Mushroom Association (VSVP) offers its members the opportunity to genetically identify species that pose identification challenges and investigate newly discovered findings in Switzerland as part of this project.

Fungi are central to the functioning of ecosystems. Despite their demonstrable importance, fungi have so far been neglected in biodiversity conservation. This project contributes to the knowledge of the diversity of fungi in Europe and thus improves the basis for their protection.

Publications

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Oggier A., Gross A. (2025) Der Zitronenseitling und die Risiken verwilderter Zuchtpilze. Pleurotus citrinopileatus Singer (Familie: Pleurotaceae). Factsheet Neomyceten. Birmensdorf: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Abrego N., Furneaux B., Hardwick B., Somervuo P., Palorinne I., Aguilar-Trigueros C.A., … Ovaskainen O. (2024) Airborne DNA reveals predictable spatial and seasonal dynamics of fungi. Nature. 631, 835-842. doi:10.1038/s41586-024-07658-9 Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Schenk-Jäger K., Gross A. (2024) Fungo velenoso profumato Paralepistopsis amoenolens. Paralepistopsis amoenolens (Malençon) Vizzini (Famiglia: Tricholomataceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 4 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Rigling D., Gross A. (2024) Marciume radicale dei pini del Nord America. Heterobasidion irregulare Garbel. & Otrosina (Famiglia: Bondarzewiaceae). Scheda informativa neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 4 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Queloz V., Prospero S., Gross A. (2024) Moria di faggi dovuta a Kernoviae. Phytophthora kernoviae Brasier & S.A. Kirk (famiglia: Peronosporaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Prospero S., Gross A. (2024) Mort subite du chêne. Phytophthora ramorum Werres, De Cock & Man in 't Veld (Famille: Peronosporaceae). Factsheet Néomycètes. Birmensdorf: Institut fédéral de recherches sur la forêt, la neige et le paysage WSL. 4 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Prospero S., Gross A. (2024) Morte improvvisa della quercia. Phytophthora ramorum Werres, De Cock & Man in 't Veld (famiglia: Peronosporaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca per la foresta, la neve e il paesaggio WSL. 4 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Beenken L., Gross A. (2024) Oidio asiatico del nocciolo. Erysiphe corylacearum (U. Braun & S. Takam) (Famiglia: Erysiphaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Mayerhofer J., Gross A. (2024) Peronospora dell'aquilegia. Peronospora aquilegiicola Thines, G. Denton & Y.J. Choi (Famiglia: Peronosporaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Prospero S., Gross A. (2024) Phytophthora degli ontani. Phytophthora ×alni (Brasier & S.A. Kirk) Husson, Ioos & Marçais (Famiglia: Peronosporaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Brännhage J., Prospero S., Gross A. (2024) Plötzlicher Eichentod. Phytophthora ramorum Werres, De Cock & Man in 't Veld (Familie: Peronosporaceae). Factsheet Neomyceten. Birmensdorf: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt für Wald, Schnee und Landschaft WSL. 4 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Beenken L., Gross A. (2024) Rouille du solidage d'Amérique du Nord. Coleosporium solidaginis (Schwein.) Thüm. (Famille: Coleosporiaceae). Factsheet néomycètes. Birmensdorf: Institut fédéral de recherches WSL. 6 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Beenken L., Gross A. (2024) Ruggine australiana della pratolina. Puccinia lagenophorae Cooke (famiglia: Pucciniaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Beenken L., Gross A. (2024) Ruggine dell'ontano. Melampsoridium hiratsukanum S. Ito ex Hirats. f. (Famiglia: Pucciniastraceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca WSL. 4 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Beenken L., Gross A. (2024) Ruggine nordamericana della verga d'oro. Coleosporium solidaginis (Schwein.) Thüm. (famiglia: Coleosporiaceae). Schede informative sui Neomiceti. Birmensdorf: Istituto federale di ricerca per la foresta, la neve e il paesaggio WSL. 6 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Brännhage J., Treindl A., Blaser S., Schlegel M., Auf der Maur B., Leisi M., Gross A. (2024) Rote Liste der Grosspilze. Stand der Arbeiten zur Revision. Liste Rouge des champignons supérieurs. Etat des travaux de la révision. Schweiz. Z. Pilzkd. 102(2), 14-21. Institutional Repository DORA

Ovaskainen O., Abrego N., Furneaux B., Hardwick B., Somervuo P., Palorinne I., … Roslin T. (2024) Global spore sampling project: a global, standardized dataset of airborne fungal DNA. Sci. Data. 11, 561 (17 pp.). doi:10.1038/s41597-024-03410-0 Institutional Repository DORA

Schlegel M., Treindl A.D., Panziera J., Zengerer V., Zani D., Brännhage J., Gross A. (2024) A case study on the application of spore sampling for the monitoring of macrofungi. Mol. Ecol. Resour. 24(4), e13941 (14 pp.). doi:10.1111/1755-0998.13941 Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Mayerhofer J., Gross A. (2023) Falscher Mehltau an Akelei. Peronospora aquilegiicola Thines, G. Denton & Y.J. Choi (Familie: Peronosporaceae). Factsheet Neomyceten. Birmensdorf: Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

Auf der Maur B., Gross A., Queloz V., Prospero S. (2023) Maladie de l'encre du châtaignier. Phytophthora × cambivora (Petri) Buisman (Famille: Peronosporaceae). Factsheet néomycètes. Birmensdorf: Institut fédéral de recherches WSL. 5 p. Institutional Repository DORA

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