Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Science

Fungi communicate with one another in the presence of metal pollution in forests

VUB researcher Maarten Ottaway investigated how trees and their invisible underground allies—the fungi—respond to soil pollution. His Ph.D. sheds new light on an age-old partnership that is crucial for healthy forests, and on how that partnership holds up under the pressure of metal pollution.

Fungi communicate with one another in the presence of metal pollution in forests
Image: Phys.org
VUB researcher Maarten Ottaway investigated how trees and their invisible underground allies—the fungi—respond to soil pollution. His Ph.D. sheds new light on an age-old partnership that is crucial for healthy forests, and on how that partnership holds up under the pressure of metal pollution.

Originally published at Phys.org

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