On Thursday, June 11, 2026, researchers published a study in the journal Science revealing the first global map of underground arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal networks stretching 110 quadrillion kilometers through Earth’s topsoil.
These symbiotic fungi are critical for planetary health, shuttling around 4 billion metric tons of carbon annually—equal to 11% of human emissions—while supporting trade relationships with roughly 70% of plant species.
While wild grasslands—including the Florida Everglades—contain around 40% of global fungal biomass, cultivated croplands show roughly 50% lower densities, likely due to fertilizers, fungicides, and tilling practices.
Evolutionary ecologist Justin Stewart and colleagues argue these maps are ‘urgently needed’ to inform biodiversity conservation and agricultural management, helping policymakers identify where fungi thrive and require protection.
Researchers created supplemental ‘maps of ignorance’ to guide future efforts, with plans to update the database within five years to address challenges from food security to climate change.
Read the full article in Science Daily
