Fungi Flashcards
What kingdoms did fungi once belong to and why?
Plant kingdom: sessile, cell wall, roots; but lack chloroplasts and photo synthesis
Animal kingdom: cell wall has chitin, heterotrophic, stores carbohydrates
Sister taxa to fungi?
Choanoflagellates and animalia
Why do fungi contain antibiotics
Fungi and bacteria are competitors because they both eat dead things
Fungi have chemicals to fight off bacteria so fungi can have nutrients
What is a defining feature of fungi?
Consist of hyphae in their reproductive body
Fungi characteristics
Consists of hyphae
Disperse by spores
Absorptive heterotrophs ( absorbs nutrients through hyphae)
Cell wall w/ chitin
Some fungal cells are dikaryotic (2 nuclei)
How do fungi absorb nutrients?
Secrete digestive enzymes
Digests cellulose into monosaccharides
Absorbs sugar
Why are fungi restricted to water?
Because fungi are absorptive heterotrophs and rely on hyphae to absorb nutrients from the water
Fiber
Indigestible plant material
Why is fiber indigestible?
Because humans don’t have the right enzyme to breakdown cellulose
Why does fiber cause regular bowel movement?
Because it is indigestible so the body wants to get rid of it
Mycorrhizae
Wrap around The roots of plants
Combination of hyphae and plant roots (symbiosis )
What are the 2 types of mycorrhizae?
Ectomyocorrzhae and arbuscular mycorrhizae
Ectomycorrhizae
Located around the outside of the root
Plants receive nitrogen and phosphorus
Mycorrhizae got sugar and water
Arbuscular mycorrhizae
Plants only receive phosphorous
Inside of root
Mycorrhizae get sugar and water
Common fungal infections
Tinea
Candida albicans
Tinea
Caused by dermatophyte
Skin infecting fungi
Live on keratin and eat away at skin + toenails
Likes warm and moist conditions
Tinea examples
Ringworm - tinea corporus
Athletes foot - tinea pedis
Jock itch
Toenail infections
Candida albicans
Yeast infection
Likes warm and moist spaces
Can be triggered by antibiotics
Candida albicans examples
Oral thrush- occurs in people w/ reduced immunity
Diaper rash
Vaginal yeast infections
Why does antibiotics cause yeast infections?
Lactobacillus keeps Candida albicans in check
Antibiotics kill good flora including lactobacillus
This allows growth of yeast
Mutualism
Close interaction between 2 species where they both benefit
