"The Underground Atlas, a new model of the worldwide distribution of mycorrhizal, or network-forming, fungi, shows that the fungi in these and other places need protection. Created by researchers at the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), the atlas estimates that 90% of mycorrhizal biodiversity hotspots lie outside protected areas."
"Almost 5% of the world's ectomycorrhizal fungi hotspots are located in the Western U.S. Like their counterparts worldwide, the majority of Western fungi - and the plants that depend on them - are vulnerable to industrial agriculture, infrastructure development and other human disruptions of the soil."
"Roughly 90% of plant species on Earth form mutually beneficial relationships with mycorrhizal fungi. Fungal filaments connect with plants' roots, encouraging an exchange of carbohydrates and minerals that enhances plant growth, nurtures soil health, and even promotes carbon sequestration."
The Sierra Nevada, Willamette Valley, and Columbia River Gorge host extensive underground microbial networks. The Underground Atlas reveals that 90% of mycorrhizal biodiversity hotspots are unprotected. The Western U.S. is rich in ectomycorrhizal fungi, essential for tree and shrub symbiosis. These fungi are threatened by human activities. Approximately 90% of plant species rely on mycorrhizal fungi for growth and soil health, which also aids in carbon storage, with an estimated 13 billion tons of carbon sequestered underground globally.
Read at High Country News
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