Fungi (1)

DO NOW Based on what you learned in the movie “The Rotten World Around Us” what do you think the role fungus has in the environment? __ __ __ __ __

Peer Review of Fungus Article (Reading for Information) Short answer questions rubric: 1 point for having well organized thoughts, 2 points for convincing statements, 2 points for referencing the article to support statements, 1 point for using the allotted space well (no more then 1/2 page hand written). READ THE QUESTION CAREFULLY. DISPLAY YOUR ASSESSMENT AS A FRACTION: NUMBER OF POINTS EARNED/6

Kingdom Fungi All Eukaryotes All Heterotrophic Some are Parasitic – All Multi-Cellular (except for yeast) All are Saprophytes: Living in or on dead or decaying organic matter. –Play an important role as decomposers. All have cell walls made of Chitin: –a carbohydrate polymer (long molecule of repeating structural units) –Similar material to the exoskeletons of insects. –Also, the reason water molds and slime molds are no longer consider fungus, because they lack chitin.

Structure Hyphae: thin filaments that make up the fungi. Septate hyphae have pores where nuclei and cytoplasm can move (textbook calls them cross walls).

Structure Mycelium: the body of fungus are many hyphae tangeled together called mycelium. Fruiting Body: is a reproductive structure which grows from the mycelium in the earth below it. It is what we recognize as a mushroom.

Reproduction Most fungi can reproduce asexually and sexually.

Asexual Reproduction Sporangia: structure that produces spores. They are found at the tips of specialized hyphae called sporangiophores. Spores are haploid cells. Spores are dispersed by wind and water.

Sexual Reproduction There are FOUR types of sexual reproduction. Fungus is classified by their structure and how they reproduce sexually. Gametes are classified as “+” and “-” –There is no “male” and “female” because the gametes are about the same size –When a “+” and “-” meet they fuse and form a zygote. –After the zygote forms (diploid) meiosis begins.

Where do we find mold? How is mold spread? Can you think of examples? What do you think favorable conditions are for fungi to grow and reproduce?

Common Molds Phylum Zygomycota Zygospore: spores form during the sexual phase of life cycles that contain zygotes. Hyphae usually lack septum (cross walls). Reproductive structures do have septum (cross wall). Rhiziods: are root-like hyphae that penetrate the surface of a substance like bread. Stolons: are stem-like structures that run along the surface. A single sporangium can contain 40,000 spores –Thinking back to Ecology and Evolution…Why might the fungus produce so many spores?

Club Fungi Phylum Basidiomycota Named after reproductive structure that is shaped like a club. Includes mushrooms, toadstools, puffballs, and shelf fungi Very elaborate life cycle

Club Fungi Basidiospores are produced by the basidia and dispersed by the wind. Largest organism in the world! –Blue whales used to be considered the biggest at 110 ft –In Oregon a fungi is so big it can “encompass 1,665 football fields, or nearly four square miles… and is estimated to be 2,400 years old but could be as ancient as 8,650 years...”

Lab Picture