Fungi

Question 1

What essential roles do fungi play in ecosystems?

Answer 1

• decomposers
• nutrient cycling
• symbioses

Question 2

How do fungi help recycle nature?

Answer 2

• break down plant biomass and dead animals and waste products
• extracts carbon, nitrogen, oxygen and makes them available to other animals
• collect toxic elements

Question 3

what are the major
fungal symbionts?

Answer 3

• plant-fungal symbioses (eg: mycorrhizas, rusts)
• animal-fungal symbioses (eg: fungal diseases)
• multitrophic symbioses (eg: plant-fungal-animal, plant-fungal-bacteria)

Question 4

how many fungi are there?

Answer 4

approx. 150,000 described and 2.2-3.8 million species

Question 5

where are fungi found?

Answer 5

all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems

Question 6

what do pathogentic fungi do?

Answer 6

kill trees

Question 7

what do saprotrophic fungi do?

Answer 7

decompose wood, leaves and dung

Question 8

what do mutualistic fungi do?

Answer 8

provide nutrients and protection

Question 9

what is the largest terrestrial organism?

Answer 9

“The Humoungous Fungus”

Question 10

parisitism

Answer 10

• fungus benefits
• costs tree

Question 11

commensalism

Answer 11

• fungi benefits
• other organism has no change

Question 12

mutulism

Answer 12

• fungus benefits
• beetle benefits

Question 13

what is mycorrhiza?

Answer 13

mycorrhizal fungus and plant roots

Question 14

what is the role of mycorrhizal fungi?

Answer 14

• engaged in nutrient exchange with plants
• nutrient cycling, water uptake, protection

Question 15

what are saprotrophic fungi?

Answer 15

break down biomass using:
- hydrolytic enzymes
- organic acids
- metal ions

Question 16

what is endophytic fungi?

Answer 16

symbiotic fungi that is typically adapted to specific tissues like leaves and roots

Question 17

what are lichens?

Answer 17

• pioneer colonisers of rocky substrates (erodes rocks, buildings, gravestones)
• symbiosis between fungus and algae and/or cyanobacteria
  -fungal hyphar provide structure

Question 18

pathogenic fungi

Answer 18

• cause disease in target
• in plants: rusts, smuts, mildew, mould
• in humans: nail infections, fungal meningitis, eye infections

Question 19

what are two examples of fungal infections in animals?

Answer 19

• amphibians: chytrid fungus
• bats: white nose syndrome

Question 20

what are two examples of parasitic fungi?

Answer 20

• Armillaria: Honey fungus
• Insect brain fungi: “Zombie fungus”, widespread in arthropoda

Question 21

how do fungi have a positive impact on the economy?

Answer 21

• food
• medicines
• manufacturing

Question 22

how do fungi have a negative impact on the economy?

Answer 22

• crop diseases
• toxins

Question 23

what is an example of a medically useful antibiotic produced by fungi?

Answer 23

penecillin