Where do fungi fit in our tree of life Where do fungi fit in our tree of life? Are the prokaryotes or eukaryotes? Which other Kingdom are the most closely related to?

Fungal Characteristics        1) Cell wall made of Chitin     2) Heterotrophs and major Decomposers      3) Body is made of long filaments of hyphae which form a mycelium         4) Reproduce sexually and asexually - Asexually by spores - Sexually by mating of hyphae filaments

A World Without Fungi http://www.history.com/videos/a-world-without-fungi#a-world-without-fungi http://www.history.com/videos/a-world-without-fungi#a-world-without-fungi

Importance of Fungi The first discovered antibiotic – penicillin – is from a mould. Some of the wonder drugs of today are also derived from fungi: statins that control cholesterol levels cyclosporin to control rejection in transplant patients What does symbiotic mean?

Importance of Fungi Yeast – bread, wine, beer Antibiotics (Penicillin) Mushrooms, morels, truffles for food Decomposition of dead organic material Symbiotic relationships (e.g. Lichen) What does symbiotic mean?

Lichen Lichen is really two organisms: algae and fungus. The fungus needs food but cannot make it. The algae makes food but needs some way to keep moist. The fungus forms a crust around the algae which holds in moisture. Both organisms benefit.

Fruticose Crustose Types of Lichen Foliose

Mushrooms – “Club Like” Fungi or Basidiomycete Fungi Phylums: Basidiomycota

Bread Mold – a Zygomycete Fungi Phylums: Zygomycota

Note the cup shapes and orange peel colour Cup Fungi – Ascomycete Fungi Phylum: Ascomycota Note the cup shapes and orange peel colour

FUNGI ACTIVITY Read more about the different Fungi phylums and answer the questions to follow GROUPS OF TWO (one set of answers) Don’t write on the booklet! Use your own paper to answer the questions If time…