Society for the Protection of Underground Networks

The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) is a science-based initiative to map and protect the mycorrhizal networks that regulate the Earth's climate and ecosystems.^[1]

Society for the Protection of Underground Networks

Abbreviation	SPUN
Established	2021
Director	Prof. Dr. Toby Kiers
Board of directors	Mark Tercek, Jeremy Grantham, Rose Marcario
Affiliations	Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, AMOLF, Fungi Foundation, GlobalFungi
Website	spun.earth

The organization was founded in 2021.^{[2][3][4][5][6][7]} The Executive Director is Toby Kiers, an evolutionary biologist at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.^[8] The stated goals of The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks (SPUN) are mapping,^{[9][10][11][12]} protecting,^[13][14][15] and harnessing^[16][17] mycorrhizal fungi.

SPUN is activating mycologists around the world, working with local collaborators to obtain core soil samples from all types of ecosystems. The goal is to survey, locate, and identify the diverse domains of mycelia and create a fungal atlas, a biological reference guide to ensure their protection and continuity.^[18]

Research

Map, sample, DNA extraction and analysis. SPUN workflow.

The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks samples soil and extracts and sequences fungal DNA in order to learn which fungi are present. The geo-located fungal taxa are then fed into a machine learning model that predicts belowground fungal biodiversity on a global scale.^[19]

Expeditions

In order to identify mycorrhizal fungi present at a given location, The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks takes soil samples for analysis.

SPUN youth group spun.youth 'Fungi For Future' awareness march Amsterdam 2023.

To date, SPUN has organized expeditions in Ecuador, Colombia, Italy,^[20] Palmyra Atoll,^[21] Chile,^[22] Kazakhstan,^[23] Corsica,^[24] Ghana,^[25] and Lesotho.^[26] A number of factors are considered when choosing expedition locations, including sampling intensity at a location, predicted biodiversity, and feasibility of permitting. Locations or eco-regions that have had less intense sampling in the past are given priority.

SPUN scientist Dr. Bethan Manley samples soil for mycorrhizal fungi in Kazakhstan.

Sampling

SPUN diagram of sampling protocol

SPUN follows a standardized sampling protocol (see External links below) for collecting soil samples. Soil cores are taken at nine points in a geolocated grid. These soil cores are then homogenized into a single soil sample. Metadata concerning botanical life, land use, and collaborators are recorded.

DNA extraction and sequencing

In a lab, fungal DNA is extracted from the soil samples. This DNA is sent to be sequenced and then run through a bioinformatics pipeline that assigns a fungal taxon to each sequence present.

Mapping

The geo-located fungal taxa from the samples are then fed into a machine learning model that predicts below-ground fungal biodiversity on a global scale.^[19] These maps are used to determine future expedition locations and provide recommendations for conservation priorities.

Carbon pool research

In June 2023 The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks scientists and collaborators published a paper that estimates that 13 billion tons of CO2 is allocated to mycorrhizal fungi annually.^[27][28]

Programs

In addition to SPUN-led sampling efforts the organization runs a program called Underground Explorers,^[29] that funds mycorrhizal research in under explored regions. As of August 2024 the program has awarded grants to 92 researchers in 43 different countries.^[30] 82% of grantees are based in the Global South.

Justin Stewart takes a soil sample near Burabay, Kazakhstan (Photo Yevgeniy Lechsenko)

Advisors

The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks works closely with a number of scientists and leaders from around the world. SPUN's advisory board members^[31] are Dr. Merlin Sheldrake, Giuliana Furci, Michael Pollan, Dr. Jane Goodall, and Paul Hawken.

Conservation partners

The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks works with The Nature Conservancy, the Fungi Foundation, The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, and The Association for Conservation of Biodiversity in Kazakhstan among others.

Funders

The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks has received funding from philanthropic family foundations including The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, the Schmidt Family Foundation,^[32] The Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and The Mighty Arrow Family Foundation among others.