How they Feed, Heal and Restore our World
Most folks know fungi only as fuzzy organisms that grow on forgotten food in your refrigerator. But the fungal kingdom is vaster and more fascinating. From food and medicine to underground ecosystems, fungi quietly support life in ways we are only beginning to understand.
Food
You’ve likely eaten mushrooms like morels, chanterelles or oyster mushrooms. Mushrooms are packed with vitamins and minerals, some protein and fiber. Interestingly, they can also be a source of vitamin D when they have been in sunlight. Wildlife such as deer, bears and squirrels also eat mushrooms, even eating some species that are toxic to humans.
Medicine
Beyond their role as food, fungi also play a surprising role in human health. Humans have used mushrooms as medicine for thousands of years. Many mushrooms have been known to support immunity, aid in healing and support the nervous system. Today, scientists have identified around 900 fungal compounds used in modern medicine. There is more still to discover.
Ecological Role
However, fungi do a whole lot more than just provide medicine and a food source. The part of the mushroom you see growing above ground is just the fruiting body. Below the ground is the mycelium (a vast network of white thread-like structures). You may have seen it under logs or stumps.
Did you know that mycelium support plants to grow through our country and the world?
This mycelium network allows nutrients and water to move around which supports many species of plants. Mycelium use three different strategies to obtain energy:
- parasitism (stealing food)
- saprophytic (breaking down dead material)
- mycorrhization (forming partnerships with plant roots)
Without recycling decaying material, the world would look quite a bit different. You are likely familiar with these first two strategies of fungi.
The third is even more interesting. This life strategy is the symbiotic relationship between the fungi and the roots of plants.
Why Mycorrhizae Matter
Did you know mycelium support the whole web of life underground?
A single mycelium can extend over a surface of 10.36 square km. Most plants can’t move their roots this far. Thus, a plant can trade a surplus of sugar produced by photosynthesis in exchange for increased access to water, nutrients and protection. It’s a win-win situation for the fungi and the plant. This also helps with drought tolerance and fighting off disease. They also interact with other creatures in the soil such as nematodes and arthropods who eat the fungi. These species in turn interact with larger creatures in the soil and above the soil. Mycelium even shares information, similar to a social network, in a term coined as the “wood wide web”, allowing signals to be sent across a forest from plant to plant, for example to warn against an insect infestation.
Did you know that fungi are being used to support agriculture and horticulture?
Many home gardeners are also using fungal products as amendments to support healthy plant growth.
Types of Mycorrhizae
- Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF) grow into the cells of the roots and are found in about 85 per cent of plant families.
- Ectomycorrhizal (EMF) grow on the surface of roots and support coniferous and deciduous trees. Some fungi even partner with only one type of tree.
Mycorrhizal amendments are starting to be used in habitat restoration projects, particularly where the soil has been disturbed through development or chemicals. By reintroducing these species, native plants grow better and are more resistant to invasive species and drought.
Thus, it is understood that whenever soils are disturbed, these delicate mycorrhizae can be damaged. Also, where vegetation is removed, mycorrhizal life is wiped out.
Reclaiming Soils
In places where there has been major ground disturbance, like in mining sites, mycorrhizae can be used to reclaim soils. Mycorrhizae produce something called ‘glomalin’ which binds soil particles together, increasing moisture holding and reducing erosion. The mycelium also makes nutrients available that otherwise might not be available. They can also filter out toxic heavy metals like arsenic, lead and cadmium. Of course, they also encourage the early plant growth of these sites.
Overall, these tiny, invisible organisms are working quietly, with many benefits to humans and ecosystems.
Tracey Etwell
Tracey Etwell, M.Sc, CERP, is a Restoration Ecologist with the Canadian Wildlife Federation. She supports the Rights of Way program helping restore pollinator meadows for Monarch Butterfly and other pollinators in eastern Ontario.
