Underground Explorers

Beneath the Steppe investigates how hydrocarbon contamination alters soil and root-associated fungal communities in the Patagonian steppe, an ecologically important but underrepresented semi-arid ecosystem. The project will compare sites along a contamination gradient, from uncontaminated soils to areas with low, medium, and high oil pollution. Using standardized soil and root sampling, mycorrhizal assessments, soil physicochemical analyses, and Illumina sequencing of fungal communities, we will identify changes in fungal diversity, composition, and ecological guilds. Particular attention will be given to native mycorrhizal fungi that persist under contamination and may serve as bioindicators or contribute to bioremediation. The results will support ecosystem monitoring, restoration, and more sustainable land-management strategies in hydrocarbon-affected Patagonian landscapes. The project also includes collaboration with local landowners, public outreach, scientific training, and measures to protect wildlife and promote the recovery of the contaminated site.