A recent study led by the University of Michigan has revealed that fungi are much more abundant in the deep subsurface than previously believed, with researchers identifying 689 unique species, including 13 novel ones, from water samples taken up to 1,640 feet below ground. This research, the first to quantify fungal abundance in these depths, suggests that eukaryotic life forms a complex underground ecosystem, potentially influencing the global carbon cycle. The team also isolated over 200 types of fungi to help understand their adaptations and roles in carbon dynamics, highlighting the need to reconsider models of carbon storage in the Earth’s crust.
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Link to original article source: https://bioengineer.org/rock-eating-fungi-flourish-deep-below-our-feet/
