Michigan Subsurface Fungi Discovery Reveals Rich Underground Ecosystem

Researchers from the University of Michigan and collaborators sampled water from gas wells drilled into the Antrim Shale, a buried rock formation beneath the Great Lakes region, at depths of 650 to 1,640 feet. Genetic analysis identified 689 distinct fungal species, including 13 previously undescribed taxa, alongside microscopic animals such as tardigrades and segmented worms. A single drop of water contained roughly 250 fungal cells, a concentration comparable to ocean water, suggesting a substantial underground biomass.

The findings, published in the ISME Journal, challenge the long‑standing view that the deep subsurface is virtually devoid of eukaryotic life. Researchers propose that these fungi may help transform ancient carbon locked in rock into compounds usable by methane‑producing archaea, hinting at a previously unrecognized role in subsurface carbon cycling.