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Fungal loop hypothesis
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<p>The fungal loop hypothesis suggests that soil <a href="/facts/Fungi/BHo5DP59">fungi</a> in arid ecosystems connect the metabolic activity of <a href="/facts/Plants/X5BMDMvS">plants</a> and <a href="/facts/Biological_soil_crusts/HWTu0f2X">biological soil crusts</a> which respond to different <a href="/facts/Soil_moisture/N9Yo068u">soil moisture</a> levels. Compiling diverse evidence such as limited accumulation of <a href="/facts/Soil_organic_matter/WrAuRGp4">soil organic matter</a>, high phenol oxidative and proteolytic enzyme potentials due to microbial activity, and symbioses between plants and fungi, the fungal loop hypothesis suggests that carbon and nutrients are cycled in biotic pools rather than <a href="/facts/Leaching_(agriculture)/AwxtSzo8">leached</a> or effluxed to the <a href="/facts/Atmosphere_of_Earth/FV97Am25">atmosphere</a> during and between pulses of <a href="/facts/Precipitation/uq3nGQc8">precipitation</a>. </p>