Fungi represent an entire kingdom of life on Earth. In fact, millions of species of fungi share our space on this planet. And since soil contains more than three times as much carbon as the atmosphere, what fungi do in the soil could dramatically affect climate change.

One group of fungi in particular - the mycorrhizal fungi - are quietly, but surely, doing us a huge climate favour behind-the-scenes, or in their case, underground. These fungi help forests absorb CO2 pollution, which can in turn contribute to delaying the effects of climate change.

But, how has the effects of climate change impacted mycorrhizal fungi and can such fungi be restored in degraded parts of forests and cities?

On this episode of Climate Connections, Jennifer Bhatnagar, Associate Professor of Biology at Boston University, who has been studying fungi, shares her insights.

Feature produced and edited by: Yeo Kai Ting (ykaiting@sph.com.sg)
Voiced by: Emaad Akhtar
Photo credits: CID Bio-Science
Music credits: pixabay & its talented community of contributors