With nearly every step, we move above a vast underground network of fungal filaments, an ancient communication system that predates human civilization by hundreds of millions of years. Now, scientists have created the first comprehensive maps of these hidden networks. These maps, published in a new study in Nature, represent a four-year effort by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) to understand where mycorrhizal fungi are most diverse across the globe. The findings reveal that less than 10% of mycorrhizal fungi biodiversity hotspots fall within existing protected areas, leaving vast underground ecosystems vulnerable to destruction from agriculture and development. “For centuries, we’ve mapped mountains, forests, and oceans. But these fungi have remained in the dark, despite the extraordinary ways they sustain life on land,” Toby Kiers, SPUN’s executive director and co-author of the paper, said in a statement. “They cycle nutrients, store carbon, support plant health, and make soil. When we disrupt these critical ecosystem engineers, forest regeneration slows, crops fail, and biodiversity aboveground begins to unravel.” Map from SPUN’s Underground Atlas showing predicted arbuscular mycorrhizal biodiversity patterns across underground ecosystems. Bright colors indicate higher richness and endemism. Image courtesy of SPUN. Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic partnerships with more than 80% of plant species, creating extensive underground networks that transport nutrients and water. These fungal webs can make up to a third of the living mass in the soil, forming what scientists describe as the “wood wide web,” allowing plants to share resources and communicate environmental threats…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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