Underground Explorers

Our project evaluates how megafauna exclusion alters arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) communities and their associated ecological processes in Neotropical savannas. Given that the Cerrado is a global biodiversity hotspot crucial for carbon and water regulation, large-scale wildlife decline risks disrupting key AMF-driven functions, including nutrient cycling and plant resilience. By linking wildlife conservation directly to soil biodiversity, this research demonstrates how animal loss triggers cascading effects beneath the surface. Ultimately, this study positions megafauna as an effective umbrella group for conservation policies. It highlights that protecting large herbivores is essential not only for aboveground dynamics but also for safeguarding the hidden microbial processes that sustain ecosystem services and soil health.