Impact of Mycorrhizae on Terrestrial Carbon Sinks Under Elevated CO2 Levels: How Fungi can Slow Climate Change

Public project summary

The increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere due to anthropogenic activities is causing global warming and affecting all life on earth. Climate change is happening faster than species can adapt, and the decline of terrestrial carbon sinks will make the situation worse. Mycorrhizal fungi’s symbiotic relationship with plants is crucial for terrestrial ecosystem functioning and soil organic carbon storage. A meta-analysis found that elevated CO2 can enhance carbon sinks through Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) symbiosis, offsetting 9.5 Gt to 15 Gt CO2e by 2100 and reducing the global temperature by 0.5℃. AM-fungi can potentially increase the land carbon sink and solve the global environmental crisis.