3.3 Chapter Questions - Fungi

Question 1

What are some main characteristics of fungi?

Answer 1

• Eukaryotic
• Heterotrophic
• Stationary
• Cell walls (contains chitin)
• Genetically closer to animals
• Numerous organelles

Question 2

Hyphae

Answer 2

• Basic structural units
• Makes up the fungi body
• Multicellular, thread-like filaments
• Densely packed; difficult to see separate structures

Question 3

Mycelium

Answer 3

• Net-like mass made of branching hyphae
• Lives in soil, or other nutritious substrates

Question 4

Fruiting body

Answer 4

• Reproductive structure of fungi
• What you see above ground
• Produce spores

Question 5

What structure of fungi would you find below ground? What structure of fungi would you see above ground?

Answer 5

The fruiting body is what you would see above ground. The mycelium would be seen underground.

Question 6

Parasitic

Answer 6

Absorbs nutrients from a living host cell

Question 7

Predatory

Answer 7

Mycelia that poses itself as a trap to catch organisms that possess nutrients

Question 8

Mutualistic

Answer 8

Partnerships with other organisms

Question 9

Saprobial

Answer 9

Absorbs nutrients from broken down dead matter

Question 10

What do taxonomists consider when distinguishing between the five phyla of fungi?

Answer 10

Factors taxonomists differentiate fungi with is modes of reproduction and the structure of the fruiting body.

Question 11

What are spores? Why is being able to produce spores an important adaptation for fungi?

Answer 11

Spores are lightweight reproductive cells with a protective cell wall. This ability is important because they can easily be spread by other organisms, wind, and water. Also, can grow into a new organism with proper environmental circumstances

Question 12

What is a composite organism

Answer 12

When 2 or more species live together and depend on each other to function

Question 13

Are fungi more like plants or animals? What evidence to scientists use to help answer this question?

Answer 13

What mainly separates fungi from plants is they are heterotrophic like animals. Therefore, they are closer related.

Question 14

When you see a mushroom growing from a log, what part of the fungus are you observing?

Answer 14

When seeing a mushroom growing from a log we are seeing the reproduction portion of the fungi. Which could also be referred to as the fruiting body.

Question 15

What are 2 diseases caused by fungi?

Answer 15

Ringworm
Athlete’s foot

Question 16

What are 2 ways in which fungi are used to help us?

Answer 16

PTSD therapy
Penicilin