How Do Fungi Keep the Planet Healthy?
Evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers explains how fungal networks in soil trade nutrients with plants, help keep carbon underground, and strike bargains without having a brain. The post How Do Fungi Keep the Planet Healthy? first appeared on Quanta Magazine
Fungi, often overlooked, play a crucial role in keeping the planet healthy. Beneath our feet lies a complex network of mycorrhizal fungi, trading minerals with plant roots. This symbiotic relationship, which has evolved 450 million years ago, enriches the soil and sequesters 13 billion tons of atmospheric carbon dioxide each year - approximately one-third of the world's fossil-fuel emissions.
Scientists have yet to fully understand how these brainless, decentralized organisms can make strategic decisions about who to trade with and under what terms. Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, has dedicated her career to studying this hidden world. Employing economics and game theory, her laboratory uses advanced tools like fluorescent quantum dots and imaging robots to uncover the intricacies of these fungal-plant interactions.
Kiers' research raises new questions about soil, carbon, and the concept of individuality. In this episode, she discusses how these fungi can discriminate between better and worse partners, and how she has formed a global network of researchers to map the biodiversity of these underground networks and promote their protection. Tune in to Quanta Magazine's podcast to learn more about these fascinating organisms and their vital role in maintaining our ecosystems.
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