It’s easy to admire the canopy, but as arborists, we spend just as much time looking down at the complex ecosystems at our feet.
This photo captures a beautiful example of saprotrophic fungi at work. While they might look delicate, these fungi are the heavy lifters of the natural world. They are among the few organisms on Earth capable of producing the specific enzymes needed to break down lignin—the tough, structural polymer that gives wood its strength.
Without fungi, our forests would be choked with fallen timber. Instead, they act as nature’s digestive system, unlocking nutrients trapped in deadwood and returning them to the soil in forms that new trees and plants can absorb.
In arboriculture, we often assess fungi to determine tree stability, but on the forest floor or a habitat pile, they are a vital sign of a functioning ecosystem.
The cycle of life doesn't end when a tree falls; thanks to fungi, it’s just beginning.
