What’s going on beneath the canopy?
Forests and woodlands form highly productive ecosystems that shape our world ecology. They act as carbon sinks, and contain vast and varied populations of organisms, both flora and fauna. But besides those we can see with the naked eye, there are communities of organisms existing beneath the surface: the forest microbiome.
Over three trillion trees cover the terrestrial surface of earth, and an improved understanding of forest microbiota is essential to understanding how these ecosystems work. Recent advancements in microscopic techniques allow scientists to view microbiome at an unprecedented resolution; this ability facilitates advancements in the study of the fungi, bacteria, and archaea which make up forest habitats. While these microbial communities inform life in their own habitats, some microbiome – particularly fungi – can also inhabit and connect multiple ecological systems.
Image: Canopy by nidan. CC0 public domain via Pixabay.