ALERCE COSTERO NATIONAL PARK, Chile — Dr. Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist from the Free University of Amsterdam, is on a groundbreaking mission to study underground fungi, which could play a crucial role in addressing climate change.

Dr. Kiers and her team collect soil samples to analyze the fungal networks beneath our feet. These fungi can store large amounts of carbon, help plants survive droughts, and reduce the need for chemical fertilizers by feeding nutrients to crops. Dr. Kiers aims to create a comprehensive atlas of these underground fungi, highlighting their vital functions.

Fungi, particularly mycorrhizal fungi, form symbiotic relationships with plant roots, exchanging nutrients and carbon. This network acts as a significant carbon sink, essential for mitigating global warming. Despite their importance, fungi are often overlooked in environmental protection efforts.

The expedition in Chile, guided by an algorithm predicting high fungal biodiversity, involves collecting and analyzing soil samples to identify the fungi present and their functions. Dr. Kiers plans to gather 10,000 samples over 18 months to map the global distribution and capabilities of these fungi.

Dr. Kiers emphasizes the urgent need to protect these fungal networks as they face threats from human activities and climate change. Her work aims to document and understand these hidden allies before they disappear, providing critical insights into how they can help us adapt to a hotter planet.

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