Conservation of the Chinese caterpillar fungus under global warming

2014-2022

Ophiocordyceps sinensis (Chinese caterpillar fungus) is a highly valued fungus that has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for centuries. The fungus is endemic to the Tibetan Plateau and its surrounding regions. The climate warming and decrease of precipitation on the Plateau were reported to result in reduction of nature habitats, density and the quality of O. sinensis. In this project, I

• Co-lead the project with researchers from the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yangzhou University.
• Modeled the distribution change of the Chinese caterpillar fungus under climate change using niche modeling method.
• Assessed the conservation status of the fungus and established a framework for fungal conservation.
• Joined a field trip to Himalaya region in Tibet and Hengduan Mountain region in Yunnan to investigate local parasitic fungus diversity in 2021.