Beneath the Pavement: Understanding mycorrhizal fungi in urban ecosystems and the path forward

Kelsey R. Patrick, Nicholas Medina, Natalie Rodriguez, Justin D. Stewart, Ahram Cho, V Bala Chaudhary, Toby Kiers, Miquel A. Gonzalez-Meler, M. Luke McCormack, Coline Deveautour

Urban expansion is reshaping ecosystems worldwide, yet the responses of mycorrhizal fungi—key mediators of plant–soil interactions—remain poorly understood. In this review, we synthesize current knowledge on the environmental and ecological factors shaping mycorrhizal fungal diversity, distribution, and function in cities. We highlight how greenspace and landscape features—including plant community composition, site size and connectivity, and soil properties—interact with fungal dispersal limitations to structure communities under urban-specific stressors. Our synthesis identifies critical knowledge gaps. Research is geographically biased toward temperate, northern cities and often overlooks seasonal dynamics, constraining understanding of urban mycorrhizal ecology across climates and cultural contexts. Ectomycorrhizal fungi are particularly sensitive to habitat loss and fragmentation, emphasizing that maintaining large, connected greenspaces is crucial for conserving their diversity and ecosystem contributions. Socio-cultural influences on urban fungal communities remain largely unexplored, and experimental, trait-based, and molecular approaches are underutilized. We propose interdisciplinary research directions that link fungal ecology with urban planning and community engagement. By framing cities as coupled human–natural systems, this review provides a framework for integrating mycorrhizal fungi into urban biodiversity, ecosystem service, and public health agendas. Such integration can guide the design of resilient, biodiverse, and health-promoting greenspaces, while fostering local stewardship and inclusive decision-making.