This unfathomably huge fungal network keeps Earth cool and green

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🗞️ Driving the news: A global network of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, spanning an estimated 110 quadrillion kilometers underground, is proving to be a critical regulator of Earth’s carbon cycle, transporting around 4 billion metric tons of carbon annually, roughly 11% of human CO₂ emissions, while supporting plant growth and ecosystem resilience.

🔭 The context: These fungi form symbiotic relationships with nearly three-quarters of all plant species. Grasslands, surprisingly, account for 40% of global fungal biomass due to extensive root systems
• However, large-scale agriculture disrupts fungal density by about 50% through synthetic fertilizer use and soil tillage, reducing soil carbon retention
• Only 5% of fungal biodiversity hot spots lie in protected areas, highlighting the need for targeted conservation strategies

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi act as underground circulatory systems, enhancing nutrient and water uptake in plants, which strengthens carbon sequestration
• Protecting and restoring fungal networks can support biodiversity, soil health, and climate mitigation, while countering the carbon loss from deforestation, intensive farming, and ecosystem degradation

⏭️ What’s next: Researchers aim to use these new global fungal maps to guide conservation and agricultural practices, optimizing carbon storage and plant productivity
• This could influence policies around protected areas, sustainable land use, and soil management, with the potential to enhance the resilience of both natural and agricultural ecosystems

💬 One quote: “This map is for mycorrhizal fungi what the first detailed maps were for, I don’t know, ocean currents or river systems.” – Toby Kiers, Society for the Protection of Underground Networks

📈 One stat: Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi shuttle 4 billion metric tons of carbon annually, equivalent to 11% of humanity’s CO₂ emissions

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