Underground Explorers

The Humid-Subtropical Region of north-east Argentina is a mosaic of diverse biomes, including subtropical grasslands, savannas, shrublands, flooding grasslands, and moist forests. This region features ecoregions such as the Humid Chaco, Mesopotamian Savanna, Paraná Flooded Savanna, and the biodiverse Misiones Jungle and Araucaria Mist Forest. These areas are home to local producers and indigenous communities engaged in agriculture and livestock farming. Despite the ecological and cultural significance, these ecoregions face pressures from land conversion for agriculture, livestock, and forestry. This project aims to understand the impact of replacing native vegetation with various production systems on mycorrhizal fungi diversity. We will compare pure forest systems, natural grasslands, sown pastures grazed by cattle, and mixed systems combining forestry and cattle against pristine areas representative of each ecoregion. By comparing diverse productive systems to pristine sites, we seek to reveal the intricate relationships between land use, biodiversity, and ecosystem services, particularly in these understudied subtropical regions. The project outcome will guide land-management practices that preserve biodiversity while supporting agricultural and forestry productivity. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for balancing conservation with food production in this vital region of South America.