Answer: Toby Kiers
Notes: American biologist Toby Kiers was awarded the Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, often called the “Nobel for the environment”, for her research on mycorrhizal networks. Mycorrhizal networks are underground fungal systems where mycorrhizal fungi connect plant roots via hyphae (fungal threads). These fungi form a symbiotic relationship: plants supply carbohydrates, and fungi provide water and essential nutrients. In forest ecosystems, this underground network is called the Wood Wide Web. They play a crucial ecological role by drawing down 13 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) into soils annually, helping regulate the climate.
