Context:
A recent study published in Science has produced the first global map of underground Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi networks. The study highlights their crucial role in supporting plant life, nutrient cycling, carbon sequestration, and ecosystem health.
Explanation:
- Fungi are a separate biological kingdom and play a vital role as decomposers and nutrient recyclers in ecosystems.
- Mycorrhiza refers to a symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots, benefiting both organisms.
- Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) fungi penetrate plant root cells and occur in association with nearly 70% of terrestrial plant species.
- AM fungi exchange water and soil nutrients (especially phosphorus and nitrogen) with plants in return for carbohydrates produced through photosynthesis.
- Their underground thread-like structures called hyphae form extensive networks connecting plants and soils.
- These networks improve soil fertility, drought tolerance, nutrient uptake, and ecosystem resilience.
- AM fungi act as important carbon sinks, transferring and storing significant amounts of carbon in soils.
- Grasslands, including those in the Tibetan Plateau, South Sudan, and India, are major hotspots of AM fungal diversity.
- Conversion of natural grasslands into agricultural land threatens these underground fungal networks.
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