What do decomposers do
- break down complex organic compounds into inorganic forms (decompose plant matter)
- nutrient & CO2 cycling
What do parasites do
absorb nutrient from cells of living hosts
what do mutualists do
absorb nutrient from host but give something back
What are the cell walls of fungi made of
Chitin
What are the bodies of most fungi composed of
hyphae
What does mycelium act as
a feeding network
Are the spores of fungi produced by meiosis or mitosis
both
what do spores produce
hyphae, also always haploid
What are the five phyla of fungi
- Phylum Chytridiomycota
- Phylum Zygomycota
- Phylum Glomeromycota
- Phylum Ascomycota
- Phylum Basidiomycota
What is myco
fungus
Characteristics of Chytridiomycota
- mainly freshwater
- free living chytrids digest dead organic matter
- Parasitic chytrids digest tissues of living hosts
- chytrids implicated in global decline of amphibians
Characteristics of Zygomycota
- Live in soil & organic remains
- the mold you see on strawberries
Characteristics of Phylum Glomeromycota
- they all form mutualistic relationships with plant roots
Characteristics of Ascomycota
- AKA Sac-fungi (pathogens, decomposers, mutualists)
- range in size (unicellular & multicellular)
- defining feature: sexually produced spores in sac-like asci
- largest species of fungi
Characteristics of Phylum Basidiomycota
- Sexual reproductive structure is the basidium
- important decomposers of dead plant matter (lignin)
- many parasists
- cap contains gills which are lined with basidia
What are molds
asexually reproducing fungi
Characteristics of Yeasts
- Unicellular
- reproduce asexually by pinching off bud cells from parent cell
What do lichens do
break down solid rock, volcanic flows, & burned forests
what are lichens
symbiotic mixture of fungal hyphae and a photosynthetic partner
What are powdery mildews
fungi that coat leaves & fruits
what fungi preys on invertebrates
nematode traps
what is mycosis
fungal disease of animals
Cutaneous infection
infection occurs on outer layers of skin
Localized subcutaneous infection
infection due to wounds
