TED Talks Daily Lessons from fungi on markets and economics | Toby Kiers
Oct 30, 2019
In this engaging discussion, evolutionary biologist Toby Kiers reveals astonishing parallels between fungal networks and human economies. She explains how mycorrhizal fungi strategically trade and compete for resources, shedding light on our own economic behaviors. Kiers emphasizes the importance of cooperation within these networks, highlighting insights that could help address resource inequality. The conversation dives into the trading dynamics of fungi and their implications for sustainability, challenging our traditional views on economics.
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The Fungal Market
- Mycorrhizal fungi form vast, interconnected networks beneath the soil, acting as a hidden market economy.
- These networks are 400 million years old and connect millions of plants, facilitating resource exchange.
The Trade
- Plants and fungi engage in strategic resource trading, exchanging carbon for essential nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen.
- This exchange occurs through specialized structures called arbuscules, acting as miniature stock exchanges within plant roots.
Strategic Trading
- Natural selection drives the evolution of sophisticated trading strategies in the fungal market.
- Fungi can discriminate between good and bad trading partners, allocating resources strategically for their own benefit.