How Climate Change is Disrupting Crucial Tree-Fungi Partnerships
One of the most critical interactions in the natural world is one that is unseen, as it takes place underground. Trees rely on ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) to provide the nutrients they need in order to survive in exchange for carbon, a relationship that is crucial for their survival. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, more than a third of the world’s tree species are currently at risk of extinction. In fact, they account for more than a quarter of all species on the Red List. This rapid extinction is caused by climate change. The shift in climate is causing species to relocate to different regions as their original homes become uninhabitable for them. However, scientists have noticed a lag in migration in tree species. The reason has to do with the partner of the t...