Underground Explorers

Soil biodiversity plays a key role in provision of ecosystem services. Conservation of soil organisms and their inclusion in policy agendas is imperative. The Mt. Kenya forest is a biodiversity hotspot but the diversity of most soil biota is unexplored. Mycorrhizal fungi are a key component of forest ecosystems and they influence different biogeochemical processes. This project will compare the diversity of mycorrhizal fungi in protected and unprotected areas within the Mt. Kenya forest. It will provide an insight on the status of mycorrhizal fungi and contribute to the conservation and monitoring of soil biodiversity.