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Or sign-in if you have an account.A microscopic image of network formed by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi. Photo by Loreto Oyarte Galvez/Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam/AFPScientists have mapped a dense network of thread-like fungi that criss crosses across an array of biomes while hiding just beneath the Earth’s surface.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Enjoy the latest local, national and international news.Exclusive articles by Conrad Black, Barbara Kay and others. Plus, special edition NP Platformed and First Reading newsletters and virtual events.Unlimited online access to National Post.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword.Support local journalism.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorKnown as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM), these microscopic organisms carry water and nutrients to 70 per cent of plant species and help keep a vast amount of carbon out of the atmosphere.The study, published Thursday by the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), found that the biomass of mycorrhizal fungi was four to six times that of the human population.Paced end-to-end, the fungal pathways would reach 110 quadrillion kilometres in length, the study predicted. That would make it long enough to wrap around the planet 2.7 trillion times — and cover the distance from Earth to the Sun 750 million times.Get a dash of perspective along with the trending news of the day in a very readable format.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of NP Posted will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again“There could be up to 10 metres (32ft) of mycorrhizal network in just a teaspoon of soil,” Justin Stewart, a lead author in the study, said in the release announcement.AM networks were found in nearly all biomes, with grasslands containing 40 per cent of their biomass. The densest structures were found in the grasslands of South Sudan, the Everglades in Florida and the Tibetan plateau.With the help of an international network of scientists and researchers, SPUN analyzed more than 16,000 soil samples from nine different biomes. Machine learning models that were trained on 300,000 lab-grown AM filaments allowed researchers to predict the fungi’s growth in areas that weren’t sampled.“With the emergence of new technologies in high-resolution imaging, machine-learning and robotics, we are starting to reveal what has long been hidden under our feet,” the co-lead author, Dr. Corentin Bisot, said.“We are learning how the complex bodies of network-forming fungi transport nutrients and help regulate the climate.”The map, which is available online, reveals the scope of a mutually beneficial relationship between plants and fungi that dates back 450 to 500 million years. The mycorrhizal fungi, embedded to roots, act as a supply chain drawing nutrients crucial to plant growth from areas dozens of times greater than the plant could access alone.In exchange, the fungi receive vast amounts of carbon, estimated to be around four billion metric tons each year.The study is the first to attempt to calculate the full extent and density of AM structures. The researchers say future attempts would benefit from samples taken in areas where data is lacking, such as deserts, tropical forests and tundras.“Mycorrhizal fungi have shaped life on earth for hundreds of millions of years, but we still understand too little about how the infrastructure of these living transport systems is distributed across the planet,” Merlin Sheldrake, a co-author and biologist, said.He added: “This study is an exciting step towards understanding how this planetary circulatory system operates and suggests ways that we can better work with fungi to help address many of the unfolding challenges of our times, from food security to climate change.” Join the Conversation This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.