"Interspecies Relationality: Tending to Affect in the Wood Wide Web Debate in Fungal Science" 

Consciously or not, we are bound by our material and affectual relations with fungi. That is to say, we move and are moved by fungi. Throughout the history of the planet, fungi have played a major role
in shaping the world we live in today. Fungi are a queendom of fascinating and enigmatic creatures — a vast diversity of species. As the popularity of fungi grows, with a particular interest in the worlds of
mushrooms (the fruiting bodies of some fungal species) there is a demand for research on the lifeways and capacities of fungi. One popular finding in mycology, or fungal science, is the concept of the wood wide web. Mycelial networks underground serve as connectors between trees and plants, facilitating nutrient sharing and interspecies communications. As evoked by the metaphor “wood wide web,” the
fungi-tree relationship has been summarized as trees talking to each other through internet-like mycelial networks. This metaphor alarmed some mycologists and ignited a debate about the roles and motivations at play in interspecies relationships. Is the natural world better characterized by competition and individualism, or collective wellbeing and care? 

Published: 2023,TBD Journal, Vol. 8 Alternatives and Potentialities, Acadia University