Fungal foraging behaviour and hyphal space exploration in micro-structured Soil Chips

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Soil Science
• Microbial Ecology

Background:

• Fungal hyphal behavior in soil is poorly understood due to the challenges of studying opaque environments.
• Understanding hyphal navigation is crucial for comprehending fungal roles in soil ecosystems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and characterize the hyphal growth behavior and strategies of Basidiomycete fungi in a simulated soil environment.
• To identify novel traits and microscale strategies governing fungal navigation and habitat colonization.

Main Methods:

• Utilized a micro-fabricated "Soil Chip" system to simulate soil pore space and heterogeneity.
• Monitored hyphal growth of seven Basidiomycete species encountering micro-obstacles like constrictions and turns.

Main Results:

• Species displayed significantly different foraging ranges, persistence, spatial exploration, and obstacle-passing abilities.
• Observed hyphal behaviors were not solely predictable by ecological assumptions or classical space exploration models.
• Proposed a multivariate trait analysis to account for complex trade-offs and microscale strategies.

Conclusions:

• Fungal hyphal behavior in soil is complex and species-specific, involving microscale strategies beyond traditional phalanx/guerrilla models.
• Provides novel insights into fungal habitat colonization, foraging, and niche partitioning in soil environments.