Underground Explorers

Lombok is situated within Wallacea, the biogeographical transition zone between the Asian and Australasian regions, making it a unique area for biodiversity research. Despite its relatively small size, the island encompasses pronounced ecological gradients, ranging from dry coastal habitats to humid montane forests. Such environmental heterogeneity is expected to strongly influence the composition and diversity of fungal communities. Documenting fungal diversity across these contrasting ecosystems will help fill critical knowledge gaps in both belowground and aboveground biodiversity while advancing our understanding of the ecological processes that shape fungal communities in tropical island landscapes.