Kingdom Fungi

Which kingdom is fungi most closely related?

Fungi Characteristics Eukaryotic Multicellular ( a few unicellular) Heterotroph (decomposers) Non-motile Cell walls made of chitin Reproduce both sexually and asexually Live in moist habitats

How do fungi eat? Decomposers break down complex molecules into sugars or eat sugars found in environment Examples: common bread mold (eats carbs in bread) shelf fungi on logs (eats carbs in cell wall of wood) white button mushrooms in store (eats sugars and cellulose in dung)

What else do fungi eat? mycorrhizal fungi (live on plant roots) lichens (contain algae)

Lichens

Structure of Fungi 1. Hyphae: cells joined in thread-like strands

Mycelium = body of the fungus (many hyphae joined together)

Reproduction in Fungi Fungi can reproduce asexually or sexually Fragmentation = breaking mycelia and then it regrows (asexual) Budding = mitosis and then the cells pinch off (asexual)

Reproduction in Fungi Reproducing by spores (can be asexual or sexual) Spore = a reproductive cell that can develop into a new organism

Advantages of Spores Protection from drying out Make a large number at one time Small and lightweight so can be dispersed by wind, water, and animals

Fungal Diseases Athlete’s Foot Ringworm Yeast infections Nail fungus