US and Argentina Unite to Unearth Fungal Secrets
In the remote landscapes of Patagonia, an international team of scientists is uncovering a hidden world that could reshape our understanding of life on Earth.
Beneath the forest floor, within glacial run-off, and hidden in plain sight all around us exists a kingdom of life we've only begun to understand: fungi. These intricate networks form what scientists call the "wood wide web"—a complex underground internet that connects plants, cycles nutrients, and sustains terrestrial life as we know it.
Despite their importance, we've mapped more of the human brain and distant galaxies than the fungal networks beneath our feet. That began to change when American and Argentinian scientists joined forces to investigate one of Earth's last biological frontiers, discovering that protecting these hidden ecosystems may be crucial for our future on a warming planet.
Fungi represent one of the most diverse yet least understood kingdoms of life. Scientists estimate we've named only 1.2-14.6% of all fungal species, leaving millions awaiting discovery . These organisms are far more than just mushrooms—they form vast underground networks called mycorrhizal fungi that partner with over 80% of plants in a symbiotic relationship that has evolved over millions of years 6 .
The fungi provide plants with essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus, while the plants supply the fungi with sugars created through photosynthesis. This exchange represents one of nature's most successful partnerships, fundamental to the health of ecosystems from the Amazon to the Arctic 1 .
Recent research has revealed even more critical functions: these fungal networks draw approximately 13 billion tons of CO2 from the atmosphere into soils each year—equivalent to one-third of global fossil fuel emissions 4 6 . They create soil, cycle nutrients, support plant health, and enhance ecosystem resilience to climate extremes 4 .
"When we disrupt these critical ecosystem engineers, forest regeneration slows, crops fail, and biodiversity aboveground begins to unravel" — Dr. Toby Kiers of the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) 4
Recognizing the importance of fungal diversity, researchers from the United States and Argentina launched a pioneering collaboration in 2014-2015 titled "Collaborative CNIC: US-Argentina planning visits for fungal biodiversity investigation" 3 . The project brought together complementary expertise from both nations:
This collaboration focused specifically on studying fungal communities in the glacial water run-off of Patagonia—one of the most pristine yet rapidly changing environments on Earth 3 .
"What we can see above ground is governed to a large extent by what is happening belowground" — Dr. Jingjing Liang, forest ecologist 1
| Role | Researcher | Institution | Expertise |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Lead Researchers | Dr. Russell Rodriguez | Symbiogenics | Fungal and plant stress adaptation |
| Dr. Regina Redman | University of Washington | Fungal and plant stress adaptation | |
| Dr. Laurie Connell | University of Maine | Fungal adaptation in extreme habitats | |
| Argentinian Lead Researchers | Dr. Diego Libkind | INIBIOMA/University of Comahue | Fungal taxonomy & biodiversity |
| Dr. Martin Molino | INIBIOMA/University of Comahue | Fungal taxonomy & biodiversity | |
| Dr. Virginia de Garcia | INIBIOMA/University of Comahue | Fungal taxonomy & biodiversity |
The US-Argentina collaboration employed multiple approaches to uncover Patagonia's fungal diversity, representing the cutting edge of mycological research:
The team conducted meticulous field work in the Patagonian region, collecting samples from glacial water run-off and surrounding extreme habitats. These environments are particularly valuable to science because the unique adaptations of organisms surviving in harsh conditions may hold solutions to human challenges 3 .
Like most modern fungal biodiversity research, the project utilized DNA sequence analysis, which has become essential for identifying and classifying fungal species . As one research review notes, "DNA sequence analysis was used in 94% of published fungal taxonomic studies, a higher percentage than for any other group of organisms assessed" .
The collaboration combined classical taxonomic approaches—based on morphological characteristics—with modern molecular techniques. This integrated methodology provides a more complete understanding of fungal diversity and function .
Primary Focus: Planning visits and preliminary sampling
Expected Outcomes: Establish collaboration framework; initial assessment of fungal diversity
Primary Focus: Investigating how function impacts bacterial community structures
Expected Outcomes: Understanding ecosystem responses to climate change
Primary Focus: Large-scale projects based on initial findings
Expected Outcomes: Enhanced understanding of global nutrient cycling and inter-organismal relationships
The US-Argentina partnership represented more than just a single research project—it exemplified the evolving approach to fungal studies that has accelerated in recent years. This collaboration:
By linking taxonomic knowledge from Argentinian researchers with stress adaptation expertise from US scientists, the project created a more comprehensive research approach 3 .
Studying fungi in Patagonia's glacial environments helped scientists understand how fungi adapt to climate stress—knowledge that becomes increasingly valuable as global temperatures shift 3 .
The initial studies laid the groundwork for larger-scale projects and provided training opportunities for students at multiple levels 3 .
This collaborative model has become increasingly important in the years since, as evidenced by massive global initiatives like the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN), which now coordinates hundreds of scientists worldwide to map and protect fungal networks 4 .
The field of fungal research has been revolutionized by new technologies that allow scientists to detect and analyze species previously invisible to science. The tools used in collaborations like the US-Argentina project have grown increasingly sophisticated:
| Tool/Technique | Function | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| High-Throughput Sequencing (HTS) | Massively parallel DNA sequencing of fungal communities | Reveals vast pools of previously undetected biodiversity |
| Modular Cloning Toolkits | Standardized genetic parts for engineering fungal systems | Enables precise study of gene function; accelerates discovery 2 7 |
| Machine Learning & Predictive Mapping | AI analysis of global fungal distribution patterns | Identifies biodiversity hotspots; guides conservation efforts 4 |
| GlobalFungi Database | Repository of fungal sequencing data from worldwide samples | Provides baseline for understanding global fungal distribution 4 |
A stunning revelation in July 2025 highlighted the urgency of the work begun by collaborations like the US-Argentina partnership: scientists announced that over 90% of Earth's most diverse underground fungal ecosystems remain unprotected by conservation measures 4 6 .
The first high-resolution maps of mycorrhizal fungal communities—created from 2.8 billion fungal sequences across 130 countries—revealed critical conservation gaps worldwide 4 . Particularly concerning was the identification of the Ghanaian coast as a global fungal biodiversity hotspot that's eroding into the sea at roughly two meters per year 4 6 .
Data based on global fungal sequencing analysis 4
"Food security, water cycles, and climate resilience all depend on safeguarding these underground ecosystems" — Dr. Michael Van Nuland, lead author of the mapping study 4
This research, which would not have been possible without earlier biodiversity work like the US-Argentina collaboration, provides a critical tool for policymakers and conservation groups through an interactive platform called the "Underground Atlas" 4 .
The US-Argentina collaborative project represents both a specific scientific achievement and a symbol of a broader shift in how we understand our planet.
"For too long, we've overlooked mycorrhizal fungi. These maps help alleviate our fungus blindness and can assist us as we rise to the urgent challenges of our times" — Dr. Merlin Sheldrake, Director of Impact at SPUN 4
What began as a planning visit between American and Argentinian scientists has blossomed into a global recognition that protecting life aboveground requires understanding and conserving the hidden networks below. The future of conservation, climate regulation, and even food security may depend on continuing to explore these microscopic worlds that sustain our macroscopic one.
As the field advances, the integration of diverse perspectives—from taxonomists to molecular biologists, from Argentinian Patagonia to American laboratories—will be essential to unravel the mysteries of fungal diversity and function . The collaboration proves that meeting the ecological challenges of our time requires both international cooperation and a willingness to look beneath the surface.