Summary

Beneath the forest floor extends a vast ecosystem where a diverse array of microorganisms inhabit soil and root systems. Here, fungi and bacteria play pivotal roles in processes such as nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration. Within these microbial communities may exist a keystone species, which exerts a disproportionately large influence on the entire structure and function of such an ecosystem. While scientists often associate a keystone species with conspicuous predators, pollinators and plants, there is also a belief that the myriad microorganisms inhabiting the soil include 'hidden' key species.

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