Soil fungal diversity as a hidden driver of ecosystem services, productivity and carbon cycling in dryland ecosystems
Abstract
Dryland ecosystems, encompassing arid, semi-arid, and dry sub-humid regions, cover more than 40% of the Earth’s terrestrial surface and support a large proportion of the global population. Despite their sparse vegetation and harsh climatic conditions, drylands play a disproportionately important role in global carbon cycling, ecosystem productivity, and climate regulation. At the core of these functions lies soil fungal diversity-a largely hidden yet critical driver of ecosystem processes. Soil fungi, including saprotrophs, mycorrhizal fungi, and endophytes, regulate nutrient cycling, organic matter decomposition, plant stress tolerance, and soil structure. Under increasing climate stress, particularly drought and land degradation, fungal communities mediate ecosystem resilience and the capacity of drylands to deliver ecosystem services. This article synthesizes current understanding of soil fungal diversity in dryland ecosystems and its role in sustaining ecosystem services, enhancing productivity, and regulating carbon dynamics. By integrating insights from microbial ecology, plant–soil interactions, and global change biology, the article highlights soil fungi as key, yet often overlooked, agents in dryland sustainability and climate adaptation.