Kingdom Fungi Unit 2 - Biodiversity

Kingdom Fungi Eukaryotic Mostly Multicellular Yeasts are unicellular Heterotrophic by absorption Walls made of CHITIN Decomposers Live off dead or decaying matter Parasites Live off a living host

Structure of Fungi Composed of hyphae Branched filaments (groups of cells) surrounded by a hard chitin cell wall. Makes up the body of the fungi All except yeast, they are unicellular Mycelium Mass of hyphae, similar to the roots of a plant The visible part of the fungus (both in mold and mushrooms) is called the fruiting body.

Structure Hyphae Whole Structure

How does fungi reproduce? Reproduce by spores Reproductive cells Can reproduce both sexually and asexually Held by the hyphae in a sporangia (spore case) Where new spores land, new fungus will grow. Think about how easily mold spreads on bread, or when you chop up a mushroom with the lawn mower and new mushrooms pop up. Spores are spread by wind, water, animals, etc.

How do they eat? Heterotrophic decomposers (some parasites). Secrete digestive enzymes that decompose complex molecules into simple molecules like sugars and carbs. Molds digestive carbs in things like bread Mushrooms digest carbs and cellulose from the cell walls of wood and plant cells.

Fungi and you Decomposers Food (mushrooms, truffles, etc.) Positive Aspects of Fungi Negative Aspects of Fungi Decomposers Food (mushrooms, truffles, etc.) Lichens grow on rocks and help produce soil Yeasts are used in baking and brewing industry Antibiotic Production Food Spoilage Diseases athlete’s foot, ringworm, plant blight (American chestnut) poisonous mushrooms