Bio 123: PP9 Flashcards
Mycology
The study of fungi
What are some characteristics of Fungi?
-Around 144,000 known species but because of their diversity there could be anywhere between 2-3.8 million species
- can be multi and uni cellular
-Are all heterotrophs, have extracellular digestion
-most are saprobes
-Cell walls contain chitin which strengthen the cell wall
-Have mutualism, parasitic, and commensal ecological relationships
-Reproduce through spores (sexual and asexual reproduction)
-Diverse life cycles
Saprobes
organisms that absorb nutrients from nonliving organic material (decomposers)
Body of Fungi
Has a mycelium and a hyphae with a cell wall and nuclei
Septate hypha
Nuclei are separated by a septum which contains a pore
Coenocytic hypha
Nuclei are not separated, have free flowing nuclei throughout the hypha
Hypha
Single filaments that compose the mycelium. Contains cell walls, cytoplasms and cellular membrane.
Mycelium
interwoven mass of hyphae; infiltrates the material on which the fungi feed
What are the 3 fungi we need to know?
Chytrids
Ascomycota
Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)
What are some characteristics of Chytridiomycota?
Most ancient group with at least 1,000 species
-lives in lakes and soil
-have flagellated spores (zoospores)
-chytrid fungus has started conservation concerns because it is causing a decline in amphibian population
Chytrid Fungus
Has led to amphibian decline and has a link to climate change because general temperatures are becoming warmer.
Chytrid lives in the skin of amphibians, is parasitic, and basically suffocates the frogs because it clogs the pores on frogs skin.
What are some characteristics of Ascomycota?
-Known as sac fungi
-have around 30,000 species
-spores are produced in ASCI during sexual reproduction
-have large diversity in morphological forms
-can be multicellular and unicellular
What is the defining characteristic of Ascomycota?
-Spores are produced in sacs known as ASCI during sexual reproduction.
What is an example of Ascomycota?
Yeast, and inhaling yeast which causes valley fever
Cordyceps fungus
Can alter the behavior of the organism they invade in order to increase its spread. Is ecologically important because it can help maintain populations and biodiversity
What are some variations of Ascomycetes?
Truffles, Morels, Ascocarps. The variations that we see are the fruiting bodies of fungi
What are some characteristics of Basidiomycota?
Includes around 30,000 species of mushrooms, puffballs, and shelf fungi
-Has a basidium which are specialized cells on the fruiting body in which spores form
What is the body of a mushroom?
-Cap (or pileus)
-Gills underneath cap
-Basidia
-Ring
-Stalk (or stipe)
-Volva
-Mycelium
Cap
Reproduction action taken place at the top of the mushroom
Gills
Pores or downward projecting spine-like teeth
Basidia
Microscopic cells in which spores develop
Mycelium
In underground and is an intrawoven netword of hyphae
Volva
Sac like layer at the base of fungi
Stalk
Is like a stem in a flower
What is the ecological importance of fungi?
They form mutualisms with other organisms such as endophytic fungi, mycorrhizal fungi, and lichens.
Endophytic Fungi
Live in leaves and stems of almost all plants, protect plants from gazers and pathogens because the fungi byproducts can be toxic to grazers
What are the conservation applications of Mycorrhizal fungi?
They can help regulate air pollution.
Lichens
Fungal species intertwined with one or more photoautotrophs. There are about 16,000 species
Mycosis
Fungal parasitic infection
