Una grande maggioranza delle specie di funghi presenti sulla Terra è ancora del tutto sconosciuta. Secondo le nuove stime degli scienziati, ne dovrebbero esistere fra 2,2 e 3,8 milioni, ma solo 120'000 sono già state descritte, stando al giardino botanico di Berlino che ha presentato una ricerca realizzata nella capitale tedesca e a Londra e pubblicata sulla rivista specializzata Microbiology Spectrum.
Robert Lücking e il suo collega britannico David Hawksworth hanno fatto la loro nuova valutazione con diverse tecniche, comprese analisi genetiche di organismi prelevati da campioni di terreno e di acqua. Ritengono che molte delle specie sconosciute si trovino ai tropici e negli insetti. Alla velocità attuale, per trovarle tutte ci vorranno però dai 1'500 ai 2'500 anni, tempo a sufficienza perché molte di esse si estinguano senza mai essere state catalogate. A titolo di paragone, si ritiene che esistano 390'000 vegetali e 7 milioni di animali diversi.
pon/ATS
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