A new study published by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) has mapped the colossal scale of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi networks beneath our feet.

The $68 quadrillion fungal network

Researchers have calculated that if all the tiny thhread-like hyhae were connected end-to-end, they would stretch an astonishing 68.35 quadrillion miles,enough to circle the Earth 2.7 trillion times or cover the Earth-sun distance over one billion times.

This vast network is composed of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which live primarily in the top 15 inches of soil and form symbiotic relationships with the roots of approximately 70 percent of all plant species.

Carbon storage and climate regulation

The total biomass of this global network is estimaetd to contain 300 megatonnes of carbon, a quantity five times the combined weight of every human on the plnet.

Furthermore, AM fungi play a significant role in climate regulation, absorbing an estimated four billion tonnes of CO2 annually.

Global extent and conservation

The study found that wild grassland ecosystems, such as the Tibetan Plateau and the Sud Wetlands, harbor about 40 percent of the world's AM fungi, despite being among the least protected ecosystems.

Researchers emphasize that these underground networks function as a global 'transport infrastructure' for carbon and nutrients, making them indispensable for planetary health and a crucial frontier for conservation efforts.

What auditors flagged in the May filing

The study, connducted by analyzing over 1,600 soil samples from 4 ,000 sites worldwide, highlights the need for further research and conservation efforts to protect these vital networks.