Kingdom FungiBiology 11

Kingdoms Review:

What is a fungus?

A eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophic organism that does not have chlorophyll.

Mycology = study of fungi

Structure:

The main body of most fungi is made up of fine, branching, usually colourless threads called hyphae.

Each fungus will have vast numbers of these hyphae, all intertwining to make up a tangled web called the mycelium.

Structure:

Fruiting bodies (such as mushrooms) are made up of thick collections of hyphae.

Fruiting bodies can produces spores

Ecological Importance:

Decomposers: recycle nutrients (often called saprobes or saprophytes)

Parasites: feed on living organisms

Symbiosis: mutualistic relationships

Ex. lichens and mycorrhizae

How fungi feed:

Extracellular digestion: As the hyphae grow across a food surface, they

release digestive chemicals These chemical break large organic molecules into

smaller molecules The smaller molecules diffuse into the fungi

How Fungi Reproduce:

Most fungi can reproduce with asexual or sexual reproduction

Fragmentation: (asexual) when a piece of hyphae brakes off, a new piece can grow back

Spores: windblown reproductive cells that help fungi disperse to new locations

Spore can be asexual or sexual

Diversity of Fungi:

Over 100,000 species of fungi 4 phyla

Classified according to their reproductive structures

1. Phylum Zygomycota:

Example: bread molds Spores for reproduction

Sporangia (a spore case) Hyphae grow into the food source

2. Phylum Ascomycota:

Sac fungi Produce a sac-like

reproductive structure called an ascus

Examples: Morels and truffles

(for eating) Yeast (only

unicellular fungi) Athlete's foot,

ringworm Plant diseases: Dutch

elm and ergot

Scarlet cup

http://www.mykoweb.com/photos/large/Sarcoscypha_coccinea(mgw-01).jpg

Yeast

Morel

3. Phylum Basidiomycota:

Club Fungi Examples includes mushrooms, shelf fungi and puffballs Produce spore in a club shaped structure called basidia The basidia are located under the cap in the gills

http://www.mykoweb.com/photos/large/Lycoperdon(mgw-01).jpg

Jack-o-lantern fungi

http://www.mykoweb.com/photos/large/Omphalotus_olivascens(mgw-01).jpg

Amanita muscaria extremely poisonous!

http://www.mykoweb.com/photos/large/Amanita_muscaria(mgw-03).jpg

4. Deuteromycota (Imperfect Fungi)

Reproduces asexual only Many are used in food production, such as

cheeses and soy sauce Examples are Penicillium and Aspergillis

Developed penicillin the antibiotic from this

Causes lung disease in humans

Aspergillis

Lichens

Mutualistic relationship (both benefit from Mutualistic relationship (both benefit from living together) between a fungi and a living together) between a fungi and a cyanobacteria or algaecyanobacteria or algae Fungi provides shelter and moisture and

photosynthetic partner provides the food

Importance: food source for Arctic animals(caribou,etc) pioneer organisms in primary succession indicator for air pollution

Pseudocyphellaria aurata, "green specklebelly", on the bark of a plane tree in the mountains of Tennessee. In Madagascar, a tea made from this lichen is used to treat indigestion.

http://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Paurata.html

Cetrelia chicitae ("sea-storm lichen") on mossy rock, north shore of Lake Superior, Ontario.

http://www.lichen.com/bigpix/Cchicitae.html

Complete “Three types of Fungi” diagrams together