The Symbiotic Relationship Between Trees and Fungi

The podcast highlights a fascinating aspect of nature where trees engage in symbiotic relationships with fungi through mycorrhizas. For over 300 million years, this underground trading system has allowed trees to exchange the carbon they produce through photosynthesis for essential nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus that fungi extract from the soil. This partnership is central to the gameplay of 'Undergrove,' where players embody Douglas fir trees that spread their seedlings by connecting with fungi. The game effectively illustrates this complex relationship, emphasizing cooperation over competition, as players trade resources in a strategic manner.