The Momentum logo
All Sustainability, All The Time
Location icon
San Diego, CA 75.0 °F
Bell icon
Get Daily Inspiration
Support Journalism
Location icon
San Diego, CA 75.0 °F
Advertise
Membership
Search icon
Menu icon
Search icon
News
ALL Now
Right arrow icon
Business
Right arrow icon
Climate
Right arrow icon
Farming
Right arrow icon
Fashion
Right arrow icon
Food
Right arrow icon
Innovation
Right arrow icon
International
Right arrow icon
Lifestyle
Right arrow icon
Policy
Right arrow icon
Technology
Right arrow icon
Transportation
Right arrow icon
Wellness
Right arrow icon
Mar 5
Business
Celebrating Women's Day
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
Oct 16
Innovation
The First Plastic-Free Technical Sportswear Is Officially Here
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
Oct 11
Transportation
From Green Lights To Blue Skies, Google’s Making Moves In The Sustainability Space
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
NowGuidesStoriesTrends
Experiences
This is some text inside of a div block.
Coast Film & Music Festival
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
This is some text inside of a div block.
OHANA Festival
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
StudioThink
Bookhouse

Help Or Harm? How Nearly Invisible Fungi Play A Massive Role In The Carbon Cycle

HomeDown arrowArticlesDown arrowArticles: PeopleDown arrow
Help Or Harm? How Nearly Invisible Fungi Play A Massive Role In The Carbon Cycle
By
Momentum Contributing Writer
Jonathan D. Bourdeau
The Momentum Contributing Writer

Click here for audio version

Fungi are odd life forms, indistinguishable from plants for most people. Indeed, certain types are edible and even enhance some of our favorite foods — Roquefort, anyone? However, like plants and animals, fungi form their own kingdom of an estimated five million life forms (though under 200,000 are identified).  

When we hear the word fungi, mushrooms often leap to mind. But those are just a single example (like yeast and mold), and most fungi remain invisible subterranean denizens of the forest. Most of them are decomposers, leeching nutrients from other life forms for food. But some have unique properties that react chemically with other life forms, changing their behavior. Scientists are just starting to understand how vital fungi are for Earth's ecosystem.   

‍

Fungi Have A Complicated Relationship With Atmospheric Carbon

Those of us who remember high school bio know that photosynthesizing plants take CO2 from the atmosphere, gobble up carbon, and breathe fresh oxygen back out for us to enjoy. The carbon forms part of the plant's structure and, when the plant dies, part of the soil. Right? Not necessarily.

Fungi complicate things. From what scientists have been able to determine, they have a highly variable and poorly understood relationship with the carbon cycle. The two most significant downsides to this are - 

  • They could be making climate change worse!
  • None of our predictive climate models account for fungi.

For example, mushrooms growing on dead trees will take carbon (among other things) from them, change it back into C02, and breathe the greenhouse gas back into the atmosphere. This process, and similar ones on the part of fungi, may partially account for the highly variable ability of plants to either sequester or emit carbon.  

‍

Even Forests Have Variable Sequestration Rates

Well, since fungi may be unreliable in the fight against climate change, at least we have the forests. Despite the egregious amounts of CO2 we emit daily, not all of it remains in the atmosphere for a long time, thanks to trees' ability to pull it from the atmosphere and store it.  

Forests can absorb about a third of all human CO2 emissions at current rates, using it as plant food. So the longer carbon remains in the woods, as plant matter or sequestered in the soil, the better for the environment.

But scientists have noticed that similar to soil, forests have highly variable abilities to absorb atmospheric CO2. Much of this variation is due to temperature. As forests get warmer, their ability to absorb and store carbon decreases. 

Since we know that the most common home of fungi is the forest floor, does that mean that they, too, are reducing the ability of forests to act as carbon sinks and even turning some into net emitters?  Again, not necessarily.

‍

Mycorrhizal Fungi Supercharge The Carbon Cycle

Forests are enduring bastions of biodiversity, hosting a complex web of symbiotic life that makes them robust and adaptable. For example, fungi dwell on the roots of over 90% of plants worldwide, sending out filaments through the soil that pull in nutrients and direct them back to the host plant. These filaments are so fine that one meter of soil can contain up to 12,000 miles of them. 

As it turns out, mycorrhizal fungi play a role in 85% of plant life and often inhibit decomposition. Unlike the surface-dwelling variants that emit CO2, these root dwellers make plants even more effective at sequestering carbon, supercharging their ability to stave off climate change. This effect is so pronounced that forests with high levels of mycorrhizal fungi are the most effective at pulling CO2 from the atmosphere. Essentially, they are the hero fungi who may be our biggest ally in the battle against carbon emissions.

‍

Too Much Nitrogen Poses A Threat To Climate-Friendly Fungi

Unfortunately, mycorrhizal fungi are under threat. This is because they are particularly vulnerable to excessive soil nitrogen. Nitrous oxide, like CO2, is a GHG that humans emit in large quantities. In addition, natural and synthetic fertilizers, often appearing in conjunction with widespread deforestation, cause high-nitrogen runoff that upsets the nutrient balance in forest soil.  

‍

We Must Avoid Synthetic Fertilizers And Deforestation

Atmospheric nitrogen has fallen over the last several decades in the US. This positive trend results from employing nitrogen scrubbers, using less industrial fertilizer, and the increasing proportion of green energy sources. This is excellent news for the ability of North American forests to absorb and sequester carbon.

However, developing nations are increasing their nitrogen pollution, mainly through the fertilizer needed to feed growing populations. The effects of this process are especially pronounced in Amazonia, where deforestation continues. That said, supporting global initiatives to reduce nitrogen pollution will go a long way toward preserving mycorrhizal fungi and their essential role in absorbing CO2.

‍

Mycorrhizal Fungi Are A Precious Resource For Climate Preservation

The diversity of the fungi kingdom makes it no surprise that individual species fall on different sides in the struggle for the environment, at least concerning carbon absorption and sequestration. However, the shocking prevalence of mycorrhizal fungi on the roots of so many plants worldwide is a massive benefit to the ability of forests to do their critical work for the atmosphere.

Although mycorrhizal fungi are vulnerable to nitrogen pollution, affluent nations have made progress in that area, making it easier for their forests to remain efficient carbon sinks. But there are still many opportunities to improve worldwide. Given all the uncertainty about how fungi work in their environment, one thing is sure: they have an essential and complex role in the global carbon cycle that scientists have only now just begun to understand.

‍

Key Takeaways

  • Tend Your Garden — Chances are that fungi keep most plant species in your garden healthy. When you care for the garden, you promote this beneficial symbiosis. So irrigate well without disturbing the soil, and refrain from synthetic fertilizers containing too much phosphorus and nitrogen.
  • Mulch — Mulch provides protection and habitat for fungi as it decomposes. Wood-chip mulch is excellent around the base of trees, while leaf and other organic mulch are perfect in plant beds.
  • Don't Choose a 'Cide — Fungicides are a no-no. But herbicides and pesticides are also harmful and can kill the beneficial fungi that help keep your plants healthy. You are better off using organic or alternative pesticides to keep the animals and insects away.
READ MORE:
Elemental Magic: Hiking Through The Cochamó Valley
Surf, Sustainability, And The Role Of Eco-Media
How Conflict Threatens Our Most Precious Resource
How To Be A Steward Of The Sea
Maine Outdoor Brands: A Collective For Sustainable Recreation
Sponsored content
HomeDown arrowArticlesDown arrowArticles: PeopleDown arrow
Help Or Harm? How Nearly Invisible Fungi Play A Massive Role In The Carbon Cycle
By
Momentum Contributing Writer
Jonathan D. Bourdeau
The Momentum Contributing Writer

Click here for audio version

Fungi are odd life forms, indistinguishable from plants for most people. Indeed, certain types are edible and even enhance some of our favorite foods – Roquefort, anyone? However, like plants and animals, fungi form their own kingdom of an estimated five million life forms (though under 200,000 are identified).  

When we hear the word fungi, mushrooms often leap to mind. But those are just a single example (like yeast and mold), and most fungi remain invisible subterranean denizens of the forest. Most of them are decomposers, leeching nutrients from other life forms for food. But some have unique properties that react chemically with other life forms, changing their behavior. Scientists are just starting to understand how vital fungi are for Earth's ecosystem.   

Fungi Have a Complicated Relationship with Atmospheric Carbon

Those of us who remember high school bio know that photosynthesizing plants take CO2 from the atmosphere, gobble up the carbon, and breathe fresh oxygen back out for us to enjoy. The carbon forms part of the plant's structure and, when the plant dies, part of the soil. Right? Not necessarily.

‍

Fungi complicate things. From what scientists have been able to determine, they have a highly variable and poorly understood relationship with the carbon cycle. The two most significant downsides to this are - 

‍

  • They could be making climate change worse!
  • None of our predictive climate models account for fungi.

‍

For example, mushrooms growing on dead trees will take carbon (among other things) from them, change it back into C02, and breathe the greenhouse gas back into the atmosphere. This process, and similar ones on the part of fungi, may partially account for the highly variable ability of plants to either sequester or emit carbon.  

‍

Even Forests Have Variable Sequestration Rates

Well, since fungi may be unreliable in the fight against climate change, at least we have the forests. Despite the egregious amounts of CO2 we emit daily, not all of it remains in the atmosphere for a long time, thanks to trees' ability to pull it from the atmosphere and store it.  

‍

Forests can absorb about a third of all human CO2 emissions at current rates, using it as plant food. So the longer carbon remains in the woods, as plant matter or sequestered in the soil, the better for the environment.

‍

But scientists have noticed that similar to soil, forests have highly variable abilities to absorb atmospheric CO2. Much of this variation is due to temperature. As forests get warmer, their ability to absorb and store carbon decreases. 

‍

Since we know that the most common home of fungi is the forest floor, does that mean that they, too, are reducing the ability of forests to act as carbon sinks and even turning some into net emitters?  Again, not necessarily.

Mycorrhizal Fungi Supercharge the Carbon Cycle

Forests are enduring bastions of biodiversity, hosting a complex web of symbiotic life that makes them robust and adaptable. For example, fungi dwell on the roots of over 90% of plants worldwide, sending out filaments through the soil that pull in nutrients and direct them back to the host plant. These filaments are so fine that one meter of soil can contain up to 12,000 miles of them. 

‍

As it turns out, mycorrhizal fungi play a role in 85% of plant life and often inhibit decomposition. Unlike the surface-dwelling variants that emit CO2, these root dwellers make plants even more effective at sequestering carbon, supercharging their ability to stave off climate change. This effect is so pronounced that forests with high levels of mycorrhizal fungi are the most effective at pulling CO2 from the atmosphere. Essentially, they are the hero fungi who may be our biggest ally in the battle against carbon emissions.

‍

Too Much Nitrogen Poses a Threat to Climate-Friendly Fungi

Unfortunately, mycorrhizal fungi are under threat. This is because they are particularly vulnerable to excessive soil nitrogen. Nitrous oxide, like CO2, is a GHG that humans emit in large quantities. In addition, natural and synthetic fertilizers, often appearing in conjunction with widespread deforestation, cause high-nitrogen runoff that upsets the nutrient balance in forest soil.  

‍

We Must Avoid Synthetic Fertilizers and Deforestation

Atmospheric nitrogen has fallen over the last several decades in the US. This positive trend results from employing nitrogen scrubbers, using less industrial fertilizer, and the increasing proportion of green energy sources. This is excellent news for the ability of North American forests to absorb and sequester carbon.

‍

However, developing nations are increasing their nitrogen pollution, mainly through the fertilizer needed to feed growing populations. The effects of this process are especially pronounced in Amazonia, where deforestation continues. That said, supporting global initiatives to reduce nitrogen pollution will go a long way toward preserving mycorrhizal fungi and their essential role in absorbing CO2.

‍

Mycorrhizal Fungi Are a Precious Resource for Climate Preservation

The diversity of the fungi kingdom makes it no surprise that individual species fall on different sides in the struggle for the environment, at least concerning carbon absorption and sequestration. However, the shocking prevalence of mycorrhizal fungi on the roots of so many plants worldwide is a massive benefit to the ability of forests to do their critical work for the atmosphere.

‍

Although mycorrhizal fungi are vulnerable to nitrogen pollution, affluent nations have made progress in that area, making it easier for their forests to remain efficient carbon sinks. But there are still many opportunities to improve worldwide. Given all the uncertainty about how fungi work in their environment, one thing is sure: they have an essential and complex role in the global carbon cycle that scientists have only now just begun to understand.

‍

Key Takeaways

  • Tend Your Garden – Chances are that fungi keep most plant species in your garden healthy. When you care for the garden, you promote this beneficial symbiosis. So irrigate well without disturbing the soil, and refrain from synthetic fertilizers containing too much phosphorus and nitrogen.
  • Mulch – Mulch provides protection and habitat for fungi as it decomposes. Wood-chip mulch is excellent around the base of trees, while leaf and other organic mulch are perfect in plant beds.
  • Don't Choose a 'Cide – Fungicides are a no-no. But herbicides and pesticides are also harmful and can kill the beneficial fungi that help keep your plants healthy. You are better off using organic or alternative pesticides to keep the animals and insects away.

Listen to the audio version of this content

momentum

More Articles...

Plus icon
Circle
Explore All
3
Product - Articles
Surf, Sustainability, And The Role Of Eco-Media
At the intersection of sustainable surf, ocean conservation, and coastal stewardship is eco-media that inspires surfers and land-dwellers alike.
Valentina Scaife
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
4
Product - Articles
Economic Degrowth May Save the Planet
An alternative economic model that focuses on policies that prioritize people and planet over profit can save us from climate disaster.
Lorena Bally
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
3
Product - Articles
From Eco-Anxiety To Eco-Resilience: How To Cope With Climate Change
Navigate eco-anxiety and burnout with compassion and resilience in the face of environmental challenges with these tips!
Reese Williams
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
3
Product - Articles
Exploring Ecotherapy: Healing Through Nature's Embrace
Discover the benefits of incorporating nature into your wellness practice with ecotherapy.
Reese Williams
Down right arrow
Circle
Read more
Next
The Momentum Community Newsletter
Sign up to stay updated on new content and happenings in our community weekly
Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Momentum Overview
Sustainable Advertising
Sponsored Content
Sustainability Reports
© 2025 Momentum LLC
Stories of Sustainability
X
Subscribe now

Get the best content and best stories
in your inbox every day!

Thanks, We’ll keep you in the loop.
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form
We hate Spam and
We'll never share your information