The 2020 Dome Fire killed 1.3 million Joshua trees in California's Mojave National Preserve, but new research shows underground fungi survived intact. - Soil sampling over three years found no decline in fungal biomass or microbial abundance.
- Widely spaced desert vegetation limited heat penetration, protecting fungal networks. - Restoration may not need costly fungal reintroduction; above-ground challenges like drought and seedling predation remain.
The findings suggest that if Joshua trees can overcome surface obstacles, the microbial support system is still in place.