The Hidden World Beneath a Forest

Description:
A forest is much more than the trees we see above the ground. Beneath the surface is a complex ecosystem of roots, fungi, microorganisms, and soil.

Life beneath our feet

Tree roots interact with fungi and microorganisms in the soil. These relationships can help plants obtain nutrients and water while contributing to the wider forest ecosystem.

When leaves fall to the ground, microorganisms and other organisms gradually break them down. Their nutrients eventually become part of the soil again.

Did you know? A forest floor can contain an enormous variety of organisms that are invisible to the human eye.