Underground Explorers

Tropical peat forests in Mak Jintan and Ibok, Terengganu, harbor diverse belowground microbial communities, yet the ecological roles of ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi remain poorly understood. This study investigates the diversity, community composition, and functional significance of ECM fungi along a riverbank-to-inland moisture and vegetation gradient. We hypothesize that ECM fungal diversity increases inland, that community composition shifts across the gradient, and that greater ECM diversity promotes the accumulation of stable carbon in mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM) rather than particulate organic matter (POM). Soil samples will be collected from five transect points at each site, generating 50 composite samples for analysis. ECM fungal communities will be characterized using ITS-region amplicon sequencing, while soil organic matter will be fractionated into POM and MAOM using sodium hexametaphosphate. Soil physicochemical properties will also be measured. The findings will enhance understanding of ECM fungal contributions to carbon stabilization and ecosystem functioning in tropical peat forests.