Mutualism: Fungi - Animal

Question 1

CS: ambrosia beetles

Answer 1

Fungi: Ophiostima, Ceratocystis, Entomocorticum
Fungi transported by beetles mycangia to food sources e.g. tree
Fungi line galleries w/ mycelium = larvae and adults mycophage

Question 2

Mycangia

Answer 2

Specialised features inside beetles

Pit/pouch like organs in

Question 3

CS: Woodwasps

Answer 3

Woodwasps = sirex
Fungi: amylostereum
Carried by wasps in specialised structures
Wasp inoculates eggs and injects fungus
Eggs hatch’s and burrow into wood that has been broken down by the fungus white rot (couldn’t do without)
Larvae eats wood and fungus = holes for adults to lay eggs and repeat cycle

Question 4

CS: higher termites

Answer 4

Termites = macrotermtinae 
Fungi = termitomyces 
Lower termites have gut microbes to digest material but not higher
Higher farm fungi in underground nests 
Termitomyces gains:
- suitable enviro 
- grooming (remove spores)
- supply of resources
Termites gain:
- fungus works as antibiotic keeping them clean 
- food source 
When termites abandon nest fungus overruns

Question 5

CS: Fungus comb

Answer 5

Termites bring plant matter to nest and deposit it on fungus comb to be broken down
Produces mycotetes: nutritious and eaten by termite
Fungus comb has pseudorhizas that keeps it above ground
Termites may carry it to new nests with them

Question 6

CS: Black jaw ant

Answer 6

Ant = Lasius fuliginosus
Fungus = aphid honeydew, cladosporium myrmecophilum
Ants live in hollow tree trunks/beneath stumps
Builds nest from:
- wood dust w/ soil
- aphid honeydew fungus
Only fruits in absence of ants, they crop it

Question 7

CS: scale insects

Answer 7

Fungus = septobasidium
- scale insects insert stylets into plants phloem = vulnerable to desiccation and predation
Fungus forms over insects = protection
Some insects infected and killed..may live for a little while and mobile
Hyphae through natural orifices and interconnect with mycelial network
Infected remain juvenille condition
If infected later may survive winter to reproduce
Fungus determines sex = eggs become female

Question 8

Rumen symbionts

Answer 8

Most fungi cant survive rumen due to 
Rumen: 
39-40.5C
65% CO2
27% methane
0.6% O2
Most that can are anaerobic 
Chytrids produce hyphae that penetrates grass cells = important cow digestion

Question 9

Invertebrate gut symbionts

Answer 9

Obligate symbionts
Some have wide host range, others restricted
3 regions can be occupied:
1. Cuticular lining of foregut
2. Same part of hindgut
3. Chitinous peritrophic membrane of midgut e.g. Diptera larvae
Some show preference for region