About This Project

Mycoremediation is a method of bioremediation, in which fungi are introduced into an environment, in order to accelerate decomposition and improve the bioavailability of nutrients. Typically, species are selected based on targeted contaminants. A new approach to mycoremediation instead utilizes fungi that are already indigenous to the soil being remediated. This experiment seeks to prove / disprove whether the proliferation of native fungi can improve the fertility of soil.

Ask the Scientists

What is the context of this research?

Poor waste management protocols & exploitation of natural resources have subjected environments to devastating biodiversity-loss. Traditional bioremediation efforts are often impractical, ineffective, and very expensive. Fortunately, a recently-discovered method of mycoremediation may be a revolutionary approach to bioremediation. Traditionally, researchers introduce foreign fungi known to release enzymes that decompose the targeted contaminants. While likely effective, this approach potentiates the risk of introducing invasive species. However, the alternative approach to mycoremediation instead utilizes fungi that are indigenous to the soil. Therefore, minimizing potential consequences by simply proliferating native species.

What is the significance of this project?

Traditional bioremediation efforts seek to decontaminate soils via chemical saturation, incineration, or bacterial inoculation. These approaches are expensive, environmentally destructive, and/or ineffective. Instead, bioremediation should be conducted via proliferation of Earth's natural decontaminators / re-fertilizers — fungi. Indeed, recent studies affirm that saprophytic ascomycetes and basidiomycetes play an essential role in the decontamination and refertilization of soils. Fungal saprophytes break-down pollutants & improve nutrient availability by externally releasing digestive enzymes that decompose complex matter into simpler molecular structures. The proliferation of this natural process can restore polluted & nutrient-deprived soils.

What are the goals of the project?

The overall goal of this project is to determine if the proliferation of indigenous terrestrial fungi can decontaminate & improve the nutrient-composition of infertile soil. This research question can be answered through a simple procedure. First, initial samples are taken from an infertile plot of soil for heavy metals / nutrient composition testing. Then, indigenous fungi are isolated from the soil, and cultured over multiple months. The indigenous fungi are then reintroduced back into the soil in bulk amounts. Finally, after a few months of growth, the soil is resampled. The initial and final soil samples are compared, and conclusions are drawn from the data. The researcher hypothesizes that heavy metals will decrease in concentration and nutrient concentration will increase.