KINGDOM FUNGI

Unit 2 - Biodiversity

Kingdom Fungi

Eukaryotic Mostly Multicellular

Yeasts are unicellular Heterotrophic by absorption Walls made of CHITIN Decomposers

Live off dead or decaying matter Parasites

Live off a living host

Structure of Fungi

Composed of hyphae Branched filaments (groups of cells)

surrounded by a hard chitin cell wall. Makes up the body of the fungi

All except yeast, they are unicellular Mycelium

Mass of hyphae, similar to the roots of a plant

The visible part of the fungus (both in mold and mushrooms) is called the fruiting body.

Structure

Hyphae Whole Structure

How does fungi reproduce?

Reproduce by spores Reproductive cells

Can reproduce both sexually and asexually

Held by the hyphae in a sporangia (spore case)

Where new spores land, new fungus will grow.Think about how easily mold spreads on bread, or when you chop up a mushroom with the lawn mower and new mushrooms pop up.

Spores are spread by wind, water, animals, etc.

How do they eat?

Heterotrophic decomposers (some parasites).

Secrete digestive enzymes that decompose complex molecules into simple molecules like sugars and carbs. Molds digestive carbs in things like

bread Mushrooms digest carbs and cellulose

from the cell walls of wood and plant cells.

Fungi and you

Decomposers Food (mushrooms,

truffles, etc.) Lichens grow on rocks

and help produce soil Yeasts are used in

baking and brewing industry

Antibiotic Production

Food Spoilage Diseases

athlete’s foot, ringworm, plant blight (American chestnut)

poisonous mushrooms

Positive Aspects of Fungi Negative Aspects of Fungi