Underground Explorers

The study will investigate the diversity and community composition of mycorrhizal fungi in Ngel Nyaki, an Afromontane forest in southeastern Nigeria. Montane forests comprise only 8% of Africa’s forest cover but have substantial biodiversity and provide numerous ecosystem services. The aim of this study is to assess the mycorrhizal fungal communities in this relatively drier, colder, and less diverse ecosystem compared to lowland tropical forests. We hypothesize that (1) mycorrhizal fungal diversity will be lower than in lowland forests, (2) arbuscular mycorrhizal associations will dominate, and (3) diversity will decline near the forest edge due to increased soil dryness. DNA will be extracted from the soil and the ITS2 rDNA region will be amplified and sequenced. A detailed assessment of the fungal taxa present will be carried out. By filling a major gap in tropical mycorrhizal research, our study will contribute to the broader understanding of microbial ecology in montane systems and probably, their role in supporting forest resilience under changing environmental conditions.