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Mycelial networks, AKA "Wood-Wide Web," play a key role in how plants communicate and share resources. Mycelium helps to increase nutrients available to plants, improves water efficiency, reduces erosion by acting as a cellular net, and promotes root growth by adding oxygen to the soil and releasing nitrogen, phosphate, and other micronutrients. In arid areas like New Mexico, water scarcity can mess with these networks, impacting plant health. This is a continuation of our project from the previous year.
Last year, we used NetLogo to simulate signal spread and plant communication, our only variable was mycorrhizal fungi densities. This year, we’ll explore combinations of native and non-native grasses with varying amounts of water and fungal inoculations. Previously, our data came from previous research found in various academic sources and papers. This year we will include an experiment; we’ve planted 120 grasses, 60 native and 60 non-native. Over the course of the year we will be tracking signs of health and growth. We’ll connect the insights from our real-world findings in our improved model.
Our model will simulate mycelial networks with varying fungal densities, water levels and the effects of native versus non-native species. The model will replicate the propagation of signals among plants. By triggering signals and measuring the signal spread, we will compare the efficiency of communication between plants with the different variables. Our goal is to show how mycelial networks operate and the advantages of restoring prairies using native species on plant health and climate resilience.