Underground Explorers

This research will evaluate the diversity and taxonomic composition of mycorrhizal fungal communities in the Piedmont Evergreen Forest of the Mashpi Reserve, a strategic ecosystem within the Chocó Andino biogeographic region. Despite the immense biological richness of this area, the underground fungal networks that sustain forest stability and carbon dynamics remain undocumented.By applying molecular biology and high-throughput sequencing (metabarcoding) techniques to soil and root samples, the study aims to generate the first standardized dataset for the reserve. At a local scale, the results will provide baseline information to support forest conservation and restoration strategies. Globally, this effort seeks to integrate the Chocó Andino region into global mycorrhizal biodiversity maps, filling a critical biogeographic gap.