The Underground Atlas of Fungi: Exploring the Hidden World of Mycelia and Mushrooms

Description:

A stunningly illustrated look at the tangled fungal web at the heart of our planet's habitats.

Mushrooms are a familiar sight in nature, but they are just the temporary outgrowths of a hidden, weblike network of microscopic threads called mycelia. These underground fungal networks connect plants and fungi in a mutually beneficial partnership that helps sustain diverse ecosystems across the globe. Whether as mutuals, saprobes, or parasites, fungi are critical to global ecosystem function. This book brings together a world-class team of experts to explore a wide range of environments-from forests and deserts to the poles and under the sea-to reveal how these crucially important systems work. Showcasing the latest findings in this exciting and fast-evolving area of research, backed with fascinating maps and infographics, this book is the ultimate guide to the vast and mysterious fungal world beneath our feet and across the landscape.

* Features a wealth of state-of-the-art maps and infographics

* Spans ecosystems and biomes around the world

* Looks at fungi in boreal and tropical forests, in the tundra, under the sea, and in coastal and fresh waters

* Sheds needed light on the future of these fungal communities in the Anthropocene

* An essential resource for mycologists and anyone interested in fungi