Lecture 1 Flashcards
how many species of fungi are there?
1.5 million
hyphae:
tiny filaments composed of tubular
walls surrounding plasma membranes and
cytoplasm that make up the body of a fungus
mycelium:
the interwoven “mat” of hyphae aka “feeding” network of a fungus
fungi and their hidden filaments are…?
hetetrophic decomposers
–employ enzymes to break down a large variety of complex molecules into smaller ones aka nutrients associated with their surroundings outside of their body
why are fungi essential in ecosystems?
break down organic material and recycle vital nutrients
what are fungi responsible for?
disease, medicine, food, booze, mutualistic interactions; can be predatory, parasitic, beneficial, detrimental to hosts
who is more related to fungi?
animals more closely related then plants
Phyla Chytridiomycota–Chytrids
– fresh water
– marine habitats
– hypothermal vents
– some terrestrials
– produce flagellated zoospores
Zygomycota
– molds
– parasites
– commensal symbionts
– hyphae are coenocytic
– produce zygosporangia
– bread molds
Glomeromycota
– arbuscular mycorrhizae
– once considered zygomycetes
Ascomycetes
– sac fun
– vary in size
– vary in complexity from unicellular years to morels
– found in marine
– freshwater
– terrestrial habitats
– spores in saclike asci contained in fruiting bodies called ascocarps
– 65,000 species
Basidiomycota
– mushrooms
– puffballs
– shelf fungi
– mycorrhizae
– parasites
–structure is clublike called basidium
– transiet 2n stage
who do fungi form mutualistic relationships with?
plants, algae, cyanobacteria, and animals
what do mutualistic fungi do?
absorb nutrients from the host organism and reciprocate with actions that benefit the host
what are the two major types of mycorrhizal?
- ectomycorrhiza
- arbuscular mycorrhizae
symbiotic endophytes:
fungi that live inside leaves or other plant parts make toxins to help defend the host plant; others help the plant tolerate heat, drought, or heavy metals
some fungi help break down plant material in…?
the guts of cows and other grazing mammals. Many species of ants use the digestive power of fungi
lichen:
a symbiotic association between a photosynthetic microorganism and a fungus: photosynthetic sugar for fungi and protection and nutrients for algae
30% of known fungal species are…?
parasites or pathogens
–mostly on or in plants
10% to 50% of the world’s fruit harvest is lost due to…?
fungi often making crops are toxic to humans
Ergot on rye:
– ascomycete
– produces toxins
–contains lysergic acid(raw material for LSD)
– 40k ppl died over it in the middle ages
chytrid Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis:
implicated in the decline or extinction of about 200 species of amphibians worldwide
mycoses Coccidioidomycosis:
– ringworm
– athletes foot
– tubercuolsis symptoms
– yeast infections
fungi asexual reproduction:
producing spores, which are tiny reproductive structures that are dispersed by wind, water, or other means. When a spore lands on a suitable substrate, it germinates and grows into a new haploid mycelium.
