In response to public inquiries and targeted critiques regarding common mycorrhizal networks (CMNs), three forest scientists have co-authored an Opinion article published in Frontiers in Forests and Global Change. Dr. Suzanne W. Simard and Dr. Teresa S.L. Ryan from the University of British Columbia faculty of forestry and Dr. David A. Perry from Oregon State University address questions about the existence, functionality, and ecological significance of CMNs in forest ecosystems.
CMNs are intricate underground networks of mycorrhizal fungal hyphae that connect the roots of trees and other plants, playing a significant role in the establishment of seedlings and certain types of shade-loving plants in forests. They can also transmit carbon, nutrients, water, and info chemicals among trees and seedlings, potentially affecting their survival and health within forest ecosystems.
The article discusses decades of research investigating the role of CMNs in forest ecosystems and directly addresses critiques questioning their ecological significance. It reaffirms why these fungal connections are important to the regenerative capacity and integrity of forest ecosystems.
Highlighting the crucial role of forests in mitigating climate change, the authors stress the need for a paradigm shift in how we view and manage these crucial ecosystems, not just as collections of individual trees, but as complex systems of connections, relationships and synergies. They call for continued research to better understand the complexities of CMNs and their crucial importance in forest stewardship.
The published article can be found here.
About the authors:
- Dr. Teresa Ryan (Sm’hayetsk) is an Indigenous knowledge and natural sciences lecturer in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She is a key scientist in the Mother Tree Project and leader of the Salmon Forest Project, bringing Indigenous knowledge and scientific methodologies to inform forest stewardship. Dr. Ryan is a member of the Pacific Salmon Commission Joint Chinook Technical Committee (Canada).
- Dr. David A. Perry is a professor emeritus at Oregon State University, with expertise in forest ecosystems, climate change, and sustainable resource management. His research focuses on forest dynamics and promoting sustainable forest management practices to support ecosystem resilience.
- Dr. Suzanne Simard is a professor in the Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She is internationally recognized for her pioneering research on forest ecology.