The world beneath our feet
In the realm of conservation, so-called ‘flagship species’ like lions and penguins play a major role. They highlight the importance of protecting biodiversity. But what if an ecosystem — such as the invisible life underground — has no eye-catching icons to place in the spotlight? SPUN, ARTIS's new collaborative partner, is standing up for the protection of mycorrhizal fungi.
Photo: Yoshihiro Kobae
Biodiversity
Biodiversity is far more than what we can observe with the naked eye. A vast, invisible world of microbes makes up the majority of Earth's biodiversity. Because these microorganisms are invisible, their protection is rarely considered. That’s a serious oversight, as microbes form the foundation of life on Earth.
Mycorrhizal fungi
Microbes live everywhere: in the air, in water, inside our bodies — but most of all, in the soil. A single teaspoon of healthy soil contains more microbes than there are people on the planet. A lot happens in that hidden world beneath our feet: there are battles, cooperation, reproduction, and trade. Among the most fascinating inhabitants of the soil are mycorrhizal fungi, which form vast underground networks.
In that same teaspoon of soil, there may already be several kilometres of fungal threads, and a complete network can span several square kilometres.
Fungal threads
Almost all plant species connect their roots to fungal threads within such a network. The fungi provide the plant with phosphorus and nitrogen from the soil, and in return, they receive sugars and fats from the plant. This exchange not only supports balance within the ecosystem, but also aids in the sequestration of carbon from the atmosphere into the soil — helping to combat global warming.
ARTIS supports SPUN
Because underground fungal networks are so hidden, we have little insight into their diversity. This presents a problem, as these networks are vulnerable. Deforestation, intensive agriculture, and climate change are destroying them — and with them, the ecosystems that depend on them.
To map and better protect these networks, SPUN (the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks) was founded. It is the world’s first organisation dedicated specifically to mapping and protecting mycorrhizal fungi.
ARTIS is committed to conservation and supports various projects aimed at protecting endangered species and their habitats, such as the jaguar, the African penguin, and the scimitar-horned oryx. New this year is the partnership with SPUN. This collaboration fits seamlessly with the mission of ARTIS-Micropia: to make the invisible visible and raise awareness of the crucial role of microbes.
