Fungi Ch.31 Flashcards
(46 cards)
What is nutrient cycling?
The process by which nutrients are recycled in the ecosystem through decomposition and interactions among organisms.
What roles do fungi play in ecosystems?
Key roles include:
* Decomposers
* Mutualists
* Pathogens
How are fungi adapted as decomposers?
Fungi can decompose organic material, including cellulose and lignin in plant cell walls, and can consume various carbon-containing substrates.
What would happen without decomposers like fungi?
Carbon, nitrogen, and other elements would remain tied up in organic matter, preventing plant and animal life.
What are mutualistic relationships in fungi?
Mutualistic fungi absorb nutrients from a host while providing benefits to the host.
What are mycorrhizal associations?
Symbiotic relationships between fungi and vascular plants, where fungi enhance nutrient uptake for plants.
What are fungal endophytes?
Symbiotic fungi that live inside plant leaves or other parts without causing harm.
How do fungal endophytes benefit plants?
They can produce toxins that deter herbivores and increase tolerance to heat, drought, or heavy metals.
What is the role of fungi in animal digestion?
Some fungi help break down plant material in the guts of herbivores, such as cattle and ants.
What is a lichen?
A symbiotic association between a photosynthetic microorganism and a fungus.
What are the components of lichens?
Typically consist of green algae or cyanobacteria and a fungal partner, often an ascomycete.
What ecological role do lichens play?
They are pioneers on cleared surfaces, breaking down substrates and trapping nitrogen.
What is mycosis?
An infection in an animal caused by a fungal parasite.
What are some examples of plant pathogenic fungi?
- Griffonectrea parasitica (chestnut blight)
- Fusarium circinatum (pine pitch canker)
What is ergotism?
A condition caused by consuming grains infected with ergots from the fungus Cladiceps purpurea, leading to severe symptoms.
What is the significance of Candida albicans?
A normal inhabitant of the human body that can become pathogenic under certain conditions, causing yeast infections.
What are some practical uses of fungi?
- Decomposers and recyclers of organic matter
- Food products like cheese, mushrooms, and truffles
- Production of antibiotics and pharmaceuticals
What is Saccharomyces cerevisiae?
A yeast crucial for baking and brewing, widely used in food production.
How can fungi be genetically modified for medical purposes?
They can be engineered to produce human glycoproteins and other biologically significant compounds.
What are the challenges posed by pathogenic fungi?
They can cause significant agricultural losses and serious health issues in humans and animals.
What is the relationship between fungi and truffles?
Truffles are edible fungi that release odors attracting mammals, facilitating spore dispersal.
What is the impact of chytrid fungi on amphibian populations?
Chytrid fungi have been linked to the decline or extinction of many amphibian species due to severe skin infections.
What is the primary benefit of the mutualistic relationship between lichens?
The alga provides carbon compounds, while the fungus offers a suitable environment for growth.
What type of organisms are fungi?
Fungi are heterotrophs that feed by absorption.
