Why in NEWS
The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) released the Underground Atlas, revealing that over 90% of mycorrhizal fungi hotspots—vital for plant nutrition and carbon storage—lie outside protected areas, raising concern about their overlooked ecological importance.
Key Terms/Concepts
| Term | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Mycorrhizal Fungi | Fungi forming symbiotic relationships with plant roots, enhancing nutrient and water absorption. |
| Carbon Sequestration | Process by which CO₂ is captured and stored to mitigate climate change. |
| AM Fungi | Arbuscular Mycorrhizal fungi; penetrate root cells; dominate in crops. |
| EcM Fungi | Ectomycorrhizal fungi; envelop roots; dominant in temperate forest trees. |
| GLOBSOB | FAO’s Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory, aims to monitor and conserve soil organisms. |
Key Points
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Coverage Gap | 90%+ of fungal hotspots remain outside protected zones globally. |
| Ecological Role | Help 80% of plants absorb nutrients (esp. phosphorus), and store ~13 billion tonnes CO₂/year. |
| Types & Hotspots | AM fungi: Crops, grasses (Brazil, SE Asia, W. Africa); EcM fungi: Forests (Canada, Siberia). |
| Global Action | FAO launched GLOBSOB at COP15 in Canada to integrate soil life into global policy. |
In a nutshell
Mnemonic: “FUNG-I CARE”
Fungi, Unprotected, Nutrient-cycle, Global CO₂ sink — Ignore at risk of collapse.
CARE: Carbon, Absorption, Roots, Ecosystem balance
Prelims Practice Questions
- Which of the following statements about mycorrhizal fungi is correct?
a) They reduce plant absorption of phosphorus
b) EcM fungi penetrate plant root cells
c) AM fungi are more common in crops
d) They do not play a role in carbon sequestration - GLOBSOB, recently in news, is associated with:
a) Groundwater monitoring
b) Soil biodiversity conservation
c) Air quality improvement
d) Forest fire mapping - Hotspots of Ectomycorrhizal fungi include:
a) Amazon Basin
b) Southeast Asia
c) Central Europe
d) West Africa
Prelims Answers with Explanation
| Ques | Ans | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | c | AM fungi are found in crops and grasses and help absorb phosphorus. |
| 2 | b | GLOBSOB stands for Global Soil Biodiversity Observatory, FAO-led. |
| 3 | c | EcM fungi are common in temperate forests like Central Europe and Siberia. |
