Underground Explorers

Unveiling the Hidden Symbiosis: Exploring Glomeromycota Diversity in the Yucatán Peninsula. This project investigates the hidden diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (Glomeromycota) in the dry and humid forests of Mexico's Yucatán Peninsula, a globally important yet underexplored ecoregion. Using high-throughput sequencing, we will map fungal communities across karstic landscapes and examine their ecological and evolutionary relationships with native vegetation. By revealing the underground networks that sustain biodiversity, nutrient cycling, and ecosystem resilience, the project will provide critical data for conservation, restoration, and sustainable land management, while contributing to SPUN's global effort to understand and protect Earth's mycorrhizal biodiversity.