Fungi communities around the globe mostly comprise a few common species
May 31 (UPI) -- New research shows microbial communities in soils around the globe are less diverse than previously suggested. In recent years, scientists have become increasingly interested in the role microbial communities in soil play in the ecological health of fields and forests. The unique microbial signatures of soil samples, researchers contend, can offer insights into the dynamics of different ecosystems. But new research suggests soil samples host vast microbial populations, with the majority of fungi found in samples all over the globe belonging to a few common species. "Scientists know that different fungi in soils are responsible for the way that forests and farmlands work," Eleonora Egidi, a postdoctoral fellow in the field of soil microbiology at the Hawkesbury Institute f...
