Underground Explorers

Uncovering Bermuda’s Underground Legacy: Mapping Soil Mycobiomes to Drive Island Forest Restoration. Isolated island ecosystems are highly vulnerable to invasive plant species that disrupt native plant-fungal interactions. In Bermuda, invasive Casuarina equisetifolia trees threaten endemic species such as the Bermuda cedar (Juniperus bermudiana), yet the subterranean drivers of this displacement remain unexplored. This project delivers the first comprehensive map of Bermuda’s soil mycobiome through a partnership with the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN). This research will yield a predictive map of fungal mutualists and pathogens for the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) to optimize native reforestation strategies, while establishing Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences as a central research hub for mid-Atlantic soil biodiversity conservation.