A Hidden Infrastructure is an interactive map for learning about arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, the fungal network that stores carbon in the soil and provides nutrients to plants.
The densest AM networks on Earth are found in grasslands. Montane and flooded grasslands alone account for roughly 40% of global AM fungal network biomass.
Under croplands, AM fungal network densities are on average 47% lower than in non-cropland soils — reflecting the cumulative impact of agriculture on underground ecosystems.
While more work is needed to link specific farming practices to mycorrhizal health, scientists worry that less dense networks diminish a soil’s ability to store carbon, cycle nutrients, and resist stress.