L2

Question 1

What is taxonomy?

Answer 1

The science of classifying organisms into categories based on shared characteristics, arranged hierarchically to reflect relationships.

Question 2

How are taxonomic categories structured?

Answer 2

They are arranged in a hierarchy, with categories such as Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, and Species, reflecting degrees of relationship.

Question 3

What types of characters are used in taxonomy?

Answer 3

Morphological traits, DNA sequences, and amino acid sequences.

Question 4

What is systematics?

Answer 4

The study of biological diversity and evolutionary relationships among taxa, integrating taxonomy with phylogenetic analysis.

Question 5

How do phylogenetic trees illustrate relationships among taxa?

Answer 5

They depict the evolutionary history based on morphological or molecular data, showing relatedness among organisms.

Question 6

What are some problems associated with using morphological characters in phylogenetics?

Answer 6

Convergent evolution, limited fossil records, and morphological variability across life stages.

Question 7

What is the significance of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA region?

Answer 7

It is recognized as the primary fungal barcode for identifying and classifying fungal species.

Question 8

What challenges exist when selecting barcode loci for phylogenetic studies?

Answer 8

Issues include resolution levels, the close relation of species, and the availability and quality of reference sequences.

Question 9

Define biological species concept.

Answer 9

A group of individuals capable of interbreeding and producing viable offspring, reproductively isolated from other groups.

Question 10

What is a key challenge in defining species in fungi?

Answer 10

The difficulty of growing fungi in vitro and confirming biological definitions due to morphological similarities.

Question 11

Explain the terms anamorph, teleomorph, and holomorph in fungal nomenclature.

Answer 11

Anamorph refers to the asexual stage, teleomorph to the sexual stage, and holomorph to the complete life cycle of a fungus.

Anamorph (asexual phase) + Teleomorph (sexual phase) = Holomorph

Question 12

What are some historical challenges in fungal nomenclature?

Answer 12

Multiple names for the same species due to different morphological stages and historical usage complicate classification.

Question 13

How has nomenclature for fungi evolved since 2013?

Answer 13

Fungi can only have one officially recognized name, ending the practice of multiple nomenclatures for species with anamorph and teleomorph stages.

Question 14

Describe the ecological roles of oomycetes.

Answer 14

They can be saprophytes, parasites, or pathogens, found in various environments including damp soils and freshwater.

Question 15

Contrast the cell wall composition of oomycetes and true fungi.

Answer 15

Oomycetes have cell walls made of cellulose and glucans, while true fungi have chitin and glucans.

Question 16

What are some economically significant diseases caused by oomycetes?

Answer 16

Late blight of potato (Phytophthora infestans), downy mildew of grape vine (Plasmopara viticola), and sudden oak death (Phytophthora ramorum).

Question 17

How does the definition of species differ between morphologists and geneticists?

Answer 17

Morphologists often rely on morphological characteristics, while geneticists use biological definitions based on reproductive isolation.

Question 18

Discuss the implications of convergent evolution in taxonomy and phylogenetics.

Answer 18

It can lead to misinterpretations of phylogenetic relationships due to similar traits evolving independently in different taxa.

Question 19

primary fungal barcode

Answer 19

Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) rDNA region

Question 20

Secondary barcode gene loci include:

Answer 20

• Ribosomal Large Subunit (LSU)
• Actin (ACT)
• Beta-tubulin (TUB2)
• Translation elongation factor 1 (TEF1) and others

Question 21

what are Order Agaricales. what are the 6 types of _ morphology

Answer 21

gilled mushrooms
free, adnate, adnexed, sinuate,
decurrent, emarginate

Question 22

What are the seven major phyla of fungi

Answer 22

Microsporidia, Chytridiomycota, Blastocladiomycota, Neocallimastigomycota, Glomeromycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota.

Question 23

What characterizes the phylum Microsporidia?

Answer 23

Microsporidia are single-celled animal parasites.

Question 24

What type of fungi does the phylum Chytridiomycota include?

Answer 24

Chytridiomycota includes zoosporic fungi, which produce motile spores.

Question 25

What is the defining feature of Blastocladiomycota?

Answer 25

Blastocladiomycota also consists of zoosporic fungi that share similarities with Chytridiomycota.

Question 26

What ecological role do Neocallimastigomycota fungi play?

Answer 26

Neocallimastigomycota are anaerobic fungi found in the digestive systems of herbivores.

Question 27

What type of fungi are included in the phylum Glomeromycota?

Answer 27

Glomeromycota comprises endomycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic relationships with plant roots.

Question 28

what are the main characteristics of Ascomycota?

Answer 28

Ascomycota, known as sac fungi, produce spores in a sac-like structure called an ascus.

Question 29

What distinguishes Basidiomycota from other fungal phyla?

Answer 29

Basidiomycota, known as club fungi, produce spores on a club-shaped structure called a basidium.