Fungal Networks: A Hidden Giant
Dr Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist and founder of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks, urges us to recognize fungi as a vital force for planetary health. Her work charting underground fungal systems has earned a MacArthur fellowship and a Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, often called the 'green' Nobel.
Mapping the Unseen
Kiers tells Ian Sample about her research on the remote Palmyra Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. There, she maps fungal networks that span more than 100 quadrillion km in length, according to a recent study. These subterranean systems play a critical but often invisible role in ecosystem health.
Impact and Recognition
The research highlights fungi's importance alongside flora and fauna. Kiers' work has been supported by the Guardian and featured in the Science Weekly podcast. The findings underscore the need to protect these underground networks for global environmental stability.
