Mathematical Modelling of Fungal Growth in Terrestrial Systems

Filamentous fungi are of fundamental importance in terrestrial ecosystems, playing important roles in decomposition, nutrient cycling, plant symbiosis and pathogenesis. They also have significant potential in several areas of environmental biotechnology such as biocontrol and bioremediation. Most species of fungi form a mycelium, i.e. a dense, interconnected network of tubes called hyphae. In all of these contexts, the fungi are growing in an environment exhibiting spatial and temporal heterogeneity. The complexity of their growth habit combined with this environmental heterogeneity, means that the role of fungi in this context is very difficult to investigate by experimental methods alone. Mathematical modelling is now proving to be a very powerful and successful complimentary tool. The mathematical models we have developed over recent years fall into two broad categories: continuum models and discrete models. The former usually comprise systems of ordinary or partial differential equations in which the variables represent the density of, e.g. fungal biomass or a substrate (an energy source such as carbon). We have developed and analysed complex models of this type, which have allowed us to address key question regarding the way in which the fungal networks grows and functions in heterogeneous environments.

This project aims to develop our mathematical modelling approach in conjunction with experimentation, to characterise fungal growth in key terrestrial systems, e.g. soil, rock and mineral substrata, especially in relation to effects of fungal colonisation and biotransformation of mineral-based substrata. These will include rocks and building materials such as stone and concrete. Specific objectives of the project will be to develop and analyse multi-substrate continuum models to better understand the complex biochemical interactions of specific classes of fungi with mineral substrata. This will lead to the development of a discrete model with which the physical and chemical interactions of the developing fungal network with the structure of the substratum will be more fully investigated.