By comparing genomes of fire-loving fungi to their non-fire relatives, researchers found repeated gene duplications and horizontal gene transfer in pathways tied to rapid carbon and nitrogen uptake after wildfires. These fungi traded long-term efficiency for fast nutrient capture, investing heavily in enzymes that break down charred plant material and postfire substrates while losing traits useful in stable forests. The result is a clear evolutionary pattern: pyrophilous fungi are genetically tuned to colonize burned landscapes, shaping early soil recovery and postfire carbon cycling in measurable ways.