Scientists made the first maps of fungi in the ground around the world.

科學家製作了第一批全球土壤真菌地圖。

Fungi are like tiny threads in the soil. They help plants get water and food. These threads are very long. They are in almost every part of the world.

真菌就像土壤中的微小絲線。它們幫助植物獲取水分和養分。這些絲線非常長，幾乎分布在世界的每個角落。

Many fungi live in grasslands. These places keep carbon in the ground. This helps the planet stay cool. Some grasslands are in Tibet and South Sudan.

許多真菌生活在草原中。這些地方將碳儲存在地下，有助於維持地球低溫。部分草原位於西藏和南蘇丹。

Farms have fewer fungi. Farmers use chemicals and machines. This kills the fungi in the soil. This makes the soil weak and unhealthy.

農場的真菌較少。農民使用化學藥劑和機械，這會殺死土壤中的真菌，使土壤變得虛弱且不健康。

The study shows that grasslands are important. It also shows that big farms hurt the soil.

研究顯示草原非常重要，也顯示大型農場會傷害土壤。

Researchers have created the first detailed global maps showing where arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal networks are located and how dense they are.

研究人員創建了首批詳細的全球地圖，顯示叢牛鞭菌（AM）網絡的分佈位置及其密度。

The study, published in Science, used over 16,000 soil samples, robotic imaging, and machine-learning models to measure underground fungal structures. These networks consist of tiny threads called hyphae, which are estimated to stretch for 110 quadrillion kilometers worldwide. These fungi formed a partnership with plants over 450 million years ago, helping plants move onto land by exchanging phosphorus and water for carbon.

這項發表於《科學》雜誌的研究，使用了超過 16,000 份土壤樣本、機械成像和機器學習模型來測量地下真菌結構。這些網絡由稱為「菌絲」的微細纖維組成，估計全球總長達 110 萬兆公里。這些真菌在 4 億 5 千萬年前就與植物建立了合作關係，透過用磷和水來交換碳，幫助植物成功移居到陸地上。

Analysis shows that grasslands contain about 40% of these fungal networks, with high concentrations found in the Tibetan plateau, the Florida Everglades, and the Sudd wetlands. Consequently, the researchers emphasize that grasslands are vital carbon sinks. Because these networks are underground, they are more stable and less affected by weather changes than forests.

分析顯示，草原包含約 40% 的這些真菌網絡，在青藏高原、佛羅里達大沼澤和蘇德濕地發現高濃度分佈。因此，研究人員強調草原是至關重要的碳匯。因為這些網絡位於地下，比起森林更加穩定，且較少受到天氣變化的影響。

However, the data show that fungal density is much lower in farming areas. Intensively managed croplands have about 50% less fungal density than natural ecosystems. The authors assert that this is caused by human activities, such as using too much fertilizer, applying fungicides, and heavy plowing. This loss of fungi may reduce the soil's ability to store carbon and recover from environmental stress.

然而，數據顯示農業區的真菌密度低得多。密集管理的耕地真菌密度比天然生態系統低約 50%。作者認為這是由人類活動引起的，例如使用過多化肥、施用殺真菌劑以及深耕。真菌的流失可能會降低土壤儲存碳以及從環境壓力中恢復的能力。

This research provides a clear baseline for global fungal networks, showing that grasslands are essential for the planet and that industrial farming harms soil health.

這項研究為全球真菌網絡提供了一個清晰的基準，顯示草原對地球至關重要，而工業化耕種會損害土壤健康。

Researchers have developed the first comprehensive global maps detailing the distribution and density of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal networks.

研究人員開發了首批全面的全球地圖，詳細記錄了叢枝菌根（AM）真菌網絡的分佈與密度。

The study, published in Science, utilizes a synthesis of over 16,000 soil core samples, robotic imaging of 300,000 hyphae, and machine-learning models to quantify underground fungal infrastructure. These networks, consisting of thread-like hyphae, are estimated to extend approximately 110 quadrillion kilometers globally. Historically, these symbiotic relationships emerged over 450 million years ago, facilitating the terrestrial colonization of plants by exchanging phosphorus and water for plant-derived carbon.

這項發表於《科學》（Science）雜誌的研究，綜合了超過 16,000 個土壤核心樣本、30 萬條菌絲的機器人成像以及機器學習模型，以定量分析地下真菌的基礎設施。這些由絲狀菌絲組成的網絡，估計全球總長約 110 萬億公里。從歷史來看，這種共生關係在 4.5 億年前出現，透過用磷與水交換植物提供的碳，促進了植物在陸地的殖民。

Spatial analysis indicates a significant concentration of AM fungal biomass within grasslands, which account for roughly 40% of the global infrastructure. High-density clusters were identified specifically in the Tibetan plateau, the Florida Everglades, and the Sudd wetlands of South Sudan. This distribution suggests that grasslands serve as critical, yet frequently under-protected, carbon sinks, as their subterranean storage mechanisms are less susceptible to atmospheric disturbances than arboreal systems.

空間分析顯示，AM 真菌生物量高度集中於草原，約佔全球基礎設施的 40%。研究人員在青藏高原、佛羅里達大沼澤以及南蘇丹的蘇德濕地發現了高密度集群。這種分佈顯示，草原是極其重要但往往缺乏保護的碳匯，因為其地下儲存機制比樹木系統更不易受大氣擾動影響。

Conversely, the data reveal a marked diminution of fungal density in agricultural regions. Intensively managed croplands exhibit approximately 50% lower network densities compared to natural ecosystems. The researchers attribute this degradation to anthropogenic factors, including excessive fertilization, fungicide application, and intensive tillage. Such reductions in fungal density are hypothesized to impair soil carbon sequestration, nutrient cycling, and systemic resilience to environmental stressors.

相反地，數據顯示農業地區的真菌密度明顯下降。密集管理的農田其網絡密度比自然生態系統低約 50%。研究人員將此退化歸因於人為因素，包括過度施肥、使用殺菌劑以及密集耕作。據假設，真菌密度的下降會損害土壤的碳封存、營養循環以及對環境壓力的系統韌性。

While the findings establish a baseline for the 'planetary circulatory system,' the authors maintain a distinction between observed resource exchange and the speculative 'wood wide web' hypothesis, noting that the latter exceeds current empirical evidence. The resulting Mycorrhizal Infrastructure Map provides a public dataset intended to inform governmental conservation strategies and climate mitigation planning.

雖然這些發現為「行星循環系統」建立了基準，但作者強調，觀察到的資源交換與推測中的「森林網絡」（wood wide web）假設有所區別，並指出後者超出了目前的經驗證據。最終形成的「菌根基礎設施圖」提供了一個公開數據集，旨在為政府的保育策略與氣候緩解計劃提供參考。

The research establishes a quantitative baseline for global fungal networks, highlighting the critical role of grasslands and the detrimental impact of industrial agriculture on soil health.

這項研究為全球真菌網絡建立了定量基準，凸顯了草原的關鍵作用以及工業化農業對土壤健康造成的負面影響。