Global hotspots of mycorrhizal fungal richness are poorly protected

Michael E. Nuland (), Colin Averill, Justin D. Stewart, Oleh Prylutskyi, Adriana Corrales, Laura G. Galen, Bethan F. Manley, Clara Qin, Thomas Lauber, Vladimir Mikryukov, Olesia Dulia, Giuliana Furci, César Marín, Merlin Sheldrake, James T. Weedon, Kabir G. Peay, Charlie K. Cornwallis, Tomáš Větrovský, Petr Kohout, Petr Baldrian, Leho Tedersoo, Stuart A. West, Thomas W. Crowther, E. Toby Kiers and Johan Hoogen
Additional contact information
Michael E. Nuland: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
Colin Averill: ETH Zürich
Justin D. Stewart: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
Oleh Prylutskyi: Falz-Fein Biosphere Reserve “Askania Nova”
Adriana Corrales: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
Laura G. Galen: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
Bethan F. Manley: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
Clara Qin: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
Thomas Lauber: ETH Zürich
Vladimir Mikryukov: University of Tartu
Olesia Dulia: University of Tartu
Giuliana Furci: Fungi Foundation
César Marín: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Merlin Sheldrake: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
James T. Weedon: Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Kabir G. Peay: Stanford University
Charlie K. Cornwallis: Lund University
Tomáš Větrovský: Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Petr Kohout: Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Petr Baldrian: Institute of Microbiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences
Leho Tedersoo: University of Tartu
Stuart A. West: Oxford University
Thomas W. Crowther: ETH Zürich
E. Toby Kiers: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)
Johan Hoogen: Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN)

Nature, 2025, vol. 645, issue 8080, 414-422

Abstract: Abstract Mycorrhizal fungi are ecosystem engineers that sustain plant life and help regulate Earth’s biogeochemical cycles1–3. However, in contrast to plants and animals, the global distribution of mycorrhizal fungal biodiversity is largely unknown, which limits our ability to monitor and protect key underground ecosystems4,5. Here we trained machine-learning algorithms on a global dataset of 25,000 geolocated soil samples comprising >2.8 billion fungal DNA sequences. We predicted arbuscular mycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal fungal richness and rarity across terrestrial ecosystems. On the basis of these predictions, we generated high-resolution, global-scale maps and identified key reservoirs of highly diverse and endemic mycorrhizal communities. Intersecting protected areas with mycorrhizal hotspots indicated that less than 10% of predicted mycorrhizal richness hotspots currently exist in protected areas. Our results describe a largely hidden component of Earth’s underground ecosystems and can help identify conservation priorities, set monitoring benchmarks and create specific restoration plans and land-management strategies.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41586-025-09277-4

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