Dr Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist and founder of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, is urging the world to recognize fungi as a vital force for planetary health. Her pioneering work charting subterranean fungal networks has earned her a MacArthur fellowship and the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, often called the 'green' Nobel.
Mapping Fungal Networks on Palmyra Atoll
In a recent podcast with Ian Sample, Kiers described her research on the remote Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. There, she and her team mapped fungal networks that extend over 100 quadrillion kilometres in length globally. These networks act as invisible connectors, facilitating nutrient exchange and carbon storage essential for ecosystem health.
Fungi's Crucial Role in Climate Regulation
Kiers explained that fungi form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, helping them absorb water and minerals while receiving sugars in return. This underground trade network also sequesters massive amounts of carbon, making fungi a key player in climate change mitigation. According to Kiers, understanding these networks is critical for conservation and restoration efforts.
Award-Winning Research
The MacArthur fellowship and Tyler Prize recognize Kiers' innovative approach to studying what she calls 'the planet's vital underground systems.' Her work highlights how fungi, often overlooked, are indispensable to life on Earth. The research on Palmyra Atoll provides new insights into how these networks function in isolated ecosystems.
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