71. FUNCTIONS OF FUNGI

Question 1

1. What three roles can Fungi play in the environment?

Answer 1

• Decomposers
• Mutualists
• Parasites

Question 2

2. What do Fungi do when they act as Decomposers?

Answer 2

• they produce enzymes
• these break down complex molecules
• they break down dead organic material
• they break these down into smaller organic
  compounds

Question 3

3. What is an example of a complex molecule that Fungi breaks down as a Composer?

Answer 3

• Cellulose

Question 4

4. What do Fungi produce as Decomposers?

Answer 4

• they produce CO₂
• this plays a role in Nitrogen Fixation

Question 5

5. What important cycle do Fungi contribute to as Decomposers?

Answer 5

• they play an important role in the nutrient cycle
• they recycle nutrients between the living and
  non-loving world
• this maintains ecological balance

Question 6

6. What do Fungi do when they act as Mutualists?

Answer 6

THEY FORM MUTUALISTIC RELATIONSHIPS WITH:
- plants
- algae
- cyanobacteria
- animals

THIS HAS BENEFICIAL ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS

Question 7

7. What is an example of a mutualistic fungi-plant relationship?

Answer 7

• Fungi Mycorrhizae and Plant roots

Question 8

8. What is an example of a mutualistic fungi-animal relationship?

Answer 8

• fungi in the digestive system

Question 9

9. What is an example of a mutualistic fungi-microorganism relationship?

Answer 9

• Lichens

Question 10

10. What are Lichens?

Answer 10

• this is the symbiotic relationship
• between a Photosynthetic Microorganism and a
  Fungus

EXAMPLE OF MICROORGANISMS IN THESE RELATIONSHIPS:
- Cyanobacterium
- Green Alga

EXAMPLE OF FUNGI IN THESE RELATIONSHIPS:
- Asomycetes

Question 11

11. What are 3 examples of Lichens?

Answer 11

1. Crustose Lichens
2. Foliose Lichens
3. Fructicose Lichens