TorneträskSopperos

TorneträskSopperos is a research project focused on studying the fungal communities and their ecological roles in the boreal forest ecosystem surrounding Lake Torneträsk in northern Sweden. The project primarily investigates the diversity, distribution, and function of mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with trees, and saprotrophic fungi, which decompose organic matter. Lake Torneträsk, the largest natural freshwater lake in Sweden, provides a unique and relatively undisturbed natural laboratory for such investigations.

The research conducted under the TorneträskSopperos umbrella employs a variety of methods, including DNA sequencing, field surveys, and experimental manipulations. Scientists aim to understand how these fungal networks influence forest health, nutrient cycling, and carbon sequestration. Particular attention is given to the impacts of environmental changes, such as climate warming, on fungal populations and their interactions with the dominant tree species in the region, including birch and Scots pine. The project contributes to a broader understanding of forest ecology and the vital, often unseen, role of fungi in terrestrial ecosystems. Findings from TorneträskSopperos are published in scientific journals and presented at international conferences.