Marvelous mycelium:
Fungi's role in sustainability and reversing environmental damage
In the quiet corners of the world's forests and beneath the surface, constant transformation is underway, driven by an unlikely hero: mycelium. This vegetative part of fungi might not look like much, but its potential impact on our environment is stirring excitement among scientists, sustainability experts, and nature lovers alike.
Mycelium works silently yet powerfully, decomposing plant debris and organic waste, turning them into fertile soil that nurtures new plant life. This process not only recycles nutrients but also supports the growth of forests, which are vital for absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
The term "magic mushrooms" has often been used in society to talk about psilocybin mushrooms, the fruiting body of a fungus that causes mind-altering effects to those who ingest it. Despite the "magical" properties of these mushrooms, underneath the soil lives a network that possesses unbelievable, fantastic attributes that make mind-altering mushrooms look like child’s play.
Fungi are an integral part of life on Earth, affecting everything and everyone, from the food grown to the oxygen produced. Humans have more microbes in their bodies than cells, with fungi making up around one percent of that. Without fungi, life on Earth wouldn't exist.
Millions of years ago, before life on land existed, lichens, a union of fungi and bacteria, crawled out of the depths of the seas, making them the first complex life forms to emerge. From there, they got to work, breaking down rocks to create nutrient-rich soil which eventually became home to millions of plants and animals. Without fungi, our earth would be barren.
If fungi influence our daily lives and shape the trajectory of life on Earth, then why does the general public know so little about them?
Fungi growing on a log in Caddo Lake State Park, Texas. (Photo by Claire Beimel)
Fungi growing on a log in Caddo Lake State Park, Texas. (Photo by Claire Beimel)
Fungi's fantastic abilities
As much as scientists have uncovered about fungi, there is more information that is a mystery; over 90% of fungal species are undocumented. What is known about fungi though, is nothing short of amazing and enchanting.
Fungi are a force to be reckoned with and can break down substances such as crude oil, polyurethane plastics, and TNT. It is also suspected that certain species can help clean up nuclear waste. Fungi doesn’t stop there. Another species of fungi appears to be able to harness radiation as energy. Some species can even accelerate 10,000 times faster than a space shuttle after launch, reaching speeds of up to 100km per hour.
To give perspective on how widespread fungi are, if someone took the top ten centimeters of soil globally and ironed the mycorrhizal hyphae (fungal roots) that resided there into a sheet, it would be half the width of the Milky Way and the surface area would cover every inch of dry land two and a half times over.
The list of fungi’s accomplishments and wonders could fill a book (and have), but the main focus of this article is how fungi clean up the environment and play into sustainability. In the past, fungi paved the way for life, and now, it’s working day in and day out to sustain it.
Through processes such as mycoremediation, mycofiltration, and mycorefabrication, fungi are changing the sustainability game and undoing decades of environmental damage.
For most, these processes are foreign because they haven’t become widespread practices. Mycoremediation and mycofiltration are fancy terms that explain the process of fungi being used to clean up contaminants and pollutants in soil and water. Mycorefabrication on the other hand, is the process by which mycelium is used to build materials and textiles to replace plastics and other substances.
The key ingredient in bioremediation research is mycelium networks, the infrastructure of fungus made up of fine white filaments known as hyphae. Mycelium plays a crucial role in clean up efforts because it acts as a filter.
Bioremediation
To remediate is to restore balance and Garrett Wilkerson, founder of Pegasus Plastics and mycology fanatic, believes fungi is the future.
At a North Texas Mycological Association event, Wilkerson spoke about mycoremediation and dove into fungi’s continuous role in our environment.
Humans have measurably changed the earth through environmentally unfriendly practices and as Wilkerson highlighted:
“The Earth has endured much more than we have, she will be fine, we, on the other hand, might not be.”
This sentiment emphasizes a critical reality: the planet will persist, while human survival is contingent upon our actions and how we decide to move forward.
Despite the damage that has occurred to our planet so far, the effects are not irreversible, and mycoremediation offers hope for a balanced future. With their high surface-to-cell ratio, fungi deploy non-specific enzymes that break down a range of substances from heavy metals to organic pollutants, including pesticides, dyes, and even plastics. Mycelium can digest complex carbon structures, meaning they are a promising natural solution to fight against pollutants such as oil and plastics.
“We can’t get rid of plastics, they’re here to stay, and there is no eliminating them. Luckily, fungi offers an alternative to plastic pollution,” said Wilkerson.
Yet, the systematic nature of soil remediation reminds us that no single organism can tackle bioremediation alone; it requires a collective approach, where fungi, plants, and animals work together within their ecosystems.
President of the North Texas Mycological Association, Sebastian Tabibi, believes that spreading mycology education through hands-on events is one way of popularizing these processes.
“In order for fungal remediation to be effective and reach its full potential, it needs to be utilized by cities and everyday people at their homes and in their yards.”
According to the North Texas Mycological Association website, they’re a non-profit organization of amateur and professional mycologists committed to the preservation and study of biodiversity of fungi in North Texas.
They’ve been vital in spreading information to local communities in hopes of fostering a love for the environment, which they believe transforms into advocation for preservation.
“When people see the wonders of these ecosystems and get hands-on experience, they see the world around them differently. They have a newfound respect and appreciation for nature. Getting people to have these experiences is what makes the biggest impact."
"Foraging for mushrooms has taught me so much about life on Earth. It's crazy to think these tiny structures play a huge role in every aspect of the circle of life, from creation to decomposition, the beginning of life and the end of it."
Mycoremediation in practice
In Buffalo, New York, Dr. Prathima Nalam, assistant professor of materials design and innovation, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at the University at Buffalo, is leading research on remediating toxic soils that have been contaminated by heavy metals due to industry practices.
Mycelium, which are highly perceptive to nature, can sense different nutrients and toxins in soil. Depending on the contaminant, a unique reaction is triggered, either crystallizing toxins like heavy metals or absorbing them within their nucleus to break things apart.
For Dr. Nalam, a simple question began her research: why not use mycelium like a filter?
Dr. Nalam has collaborated with a biotechnology company specializing in the cultivation of mycelium under controlled conditions. This partnership aims to produce innovative mycelium mats designed for advanced filtration applications. From there, Dr. Nalam and her team place these sheets in the soil, checking them often to observe how much metal they're absorbing.
Although the mycelium mats have proven highly effective in soil remediation, they come with significant challenges. One major issue is their volatility; the mats must be carefully monitored and removed from the soil at precise times to prevent them from re-releasing contaminants. Additionally, the cost of producing these mycelium mats remains high due to the new nature of the technology involved. This economic barrier significantly restricts public access to this potentially groundbreaking environmental tool and limits the use to local efforts.
As part of Dr. Nalam's initiative, a significant focus is placed on educating local residents, particularly farmers and gardeners, about the benefits of this innovative method. By raising awareness in the community, the project aims to mainstream these practices, enhancing their effectiveness and long-term adoption.
"We did small demonstrations to show that you can use mushrooms in a helpful way. There's a huge misconception in many people's minds that mushrooms are either toxic or psychedelic so educating them and changing their perspective allows for change to happen," said Nalam.
Under a microscope, mycelium can be seen entangled around lead contaminants. (Image copyrighted by Dr. Prathima Nalam and Dr. Mruganka Parasnis at the Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo)
Under a microscope, mycelium can be seen entangled around lead contaminants. (Image copyrighted by Dr. Prathima Nalam and Dr. Mruganka Parasnis at the Department of Materials Design and Innovation, University at Buffalo)
Why should anyone care?
It is clear that fungi plays an irreplaceable role on our planet. The environment is the foundation of human well-being, providing essential services from clean air and water to fertile soil for food production. Preserving these natural resources is critical not only for maintaining biodiversity but also for sustaining human economies and communities. By understanding and supporting the role of fungi in ecological restoration and conservation, people can contribute to a more resilient environment and a brighter future for generations to come.