Beneath forests, grasslands and farms lies a vast fungal network that exchanges nutrients with plant roots and stores huge amounts of carbon. American evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers has been awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement for advancing understanding of mycorrhizal fungi and their role in climate regulation, biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Underground Carbon Networks
Mycorrhizal fungi form symbiotic links with plant roots and act as underground trading systems. Plants send excess carbon below ground, while fungi supply phosphorus and nitrogen in return. These networks are now recognised as major climate regulators because they draw down about 13.12 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, roughly a third of fossil fuel emissions.
Biological Marketplace Theory
Kiers helped change scientific thinking by showing that fungi behave like traders in a biological marketplace. Her 2011 study found that fungi move phosphorus from areas of abundance to scarcity and secure more carbon in exchange. This suggested that fungi respond to supply and demand, despite lacking a brain or central nervous system.
Global Mapping of Fungal Diversity
Kiers and her colleagues have expanded research through a worldwide Underground Atlas and recent Nature studies. One study used robotic imaging to observe fungal growth and resource movement in real time. Another mapped global fungal species distribution and found that many biodiversity hotspots lie outside protected areas. This has strengthened the case for including fungi in conservation policy.
Conservation and Policy Significance
Kiers co-founded the Society for the Protection of Underground Networks to promote fungal conservation. The organisation is also launching training on legal tools for biodiversity protection. The research has wider relevance for climate action, soil health and ecosystem restoration, as fungi support plant evolution and terrestrial life.
Last Modified: April 27, 2026