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You walk through Hawkesbury bushland, feel the crunch of leaf litter, smell damp earth. Mushrooms may pop up after rain but beneath your feet lies an entire world you probably don’t see. Scientists at Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment, right here in our region, are revealing just how vital underground fungal networks are. These hidden webs trade nutrients, store carbon, and keep ecosystems alive in ways both miraculous and fragile.
Here are five things the Hawkesbury Institute has highlighted about our fungal allies—and why it matters for us.
- Fungi are not just recyclers - they're nutrient traders
Researchers at Western Sydney University explain that mycorrhizal fungi form partnerships with plants, acting like brokers. They deliver vital minerals nitrogen, phosphorus, and micronutrients to roots, reaching places roots cannot. In exchange, plants “pay” them in sugars.
In Hawkesbury’s famously nutrient-poor sandstone soils, this trade is a lifeline. Without fungi, many of our native plants would struggle to survive.
- They are hiddent carbon stores
The Hawkesbury Institute’s work shows fungal networks are unsung heroes in the fight against climate change. Their underground biomass helps lock carbon into the soil, reducing greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. By stabilising soil and organic matter, fungi make carbon storage more secure and longer-lasting.
- Human disturbance is their biggest threat
Western Sydney University research warns that when we disturb soils through clearing, compaction, over-raking, or removing leaf litter we damage fungal networks. Even paving or sealing surfaces severs these living threads. Once networks are lost, nutrient exchange and carbon storage capacity collapse.
- Fungal diversity builds resilience
The Hawkesbury Institute notes that not all fungi are alike. Some are “generalists,” while others only bond with specific plant species. Diversity is crucial. In ecosystems with many fungi, if one fails due to fire, drought, or disease, others step in. This is especially important in the Hawkesbury, where fire and flood are part of the natural cycle.
- Most of their work is invisible
Even without mushrooms above ground, fungal filaments (hyphae and mycelium) are busy below. They improve soil structure, water absorption, and plant health. Western Sydney University scientists stress that these invisible networks are constantly at work storing carbon, supporting vegetation, and recycling nutrients whether we notice them or not.
Why this matters for the Hawkesbury
- In our gardens: Leaving some leaf litter, limiting fungicides, and avoiding over-disturbance allows fungal allies to keep soil healthy and plants resilient.
- In our bushland: Landcare and regeneration projects benefit from protecting soil and encouraging fungal regrowth after fire or clearing.
- For climate and community: Healthy fungal systems mean stronger carbon sinks, more resilient vegetation, and better protection against erosion and drought.
The research from Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Institute reminds us that fungi are more than curiosities—they are the quiet backbone of life in our region. Protecting these unseen partners beneath our feet could be one of the most important steps we take in safeguarding Hawkesbury’s environment and future.
