1. The Wonderful World of Fungi

2. Diversity Species Diversity: Ecosystem Diversity:
There are more than 100,000 known species of fungi
Ecosystem Diversity:
Fungi contribute greatly to ecosystem diversity by contributing to a vast number of connections between different organisms

3. Ecosystem Diversity
80% of plants are part of a symbiotic relationship with fungi
The fungi provide vital nutrients to the plants which would otherwise be unavailable
Decomposers
Fungi are heterotrophic
Fungi acquire nutrients by releasing enzymes which externally digest dead organic material
The fungi can then absorb the nutrients

4. Ecosystem Diversity Parasitic Fungi
80% of plant diseases are due to parasitic fungi
The parasitic fungi absorb nutrients from the living plant
Examples include corn smut, potato blight, and black knot
Some fungi can also hunt invertebrates

6. Ecosystem Diversity Lichen
Lichen are formed by a symbiotic relationship between fungi and algae
The fungi provide structural support and the algae provide  carbohydrates (glucose) through the process of photosynthesis
This allows the two organisms from different kingdoms to survive in areas where neither would be able to live on their own

8. Structure and Function of Fungi
Use page 49 of your textbook to complete the note on the Structure and Function of Fungi

9. How Fungi Reproduce Fungi can reproduce either asexually or sexually
Asexual reproduction:
A piece of the hyphae breaks off or spores are released
Both cause a new network of hyphae to be produced

10. Spores Spores are: Haploid cells with thick cell walls
Thick cells walls helps them withstand unfavorable conditions for long periods of time
Function as the dispersal stage in the reproduction of fungi
Are produced by a special structure called a sporangium

12. Sexual Reproduction of the Fungal Kind
Fungi exhibit two different sexes termed ‘+’ and ‘-’
Opposite haploid hyphae grow towards each other and fuse to form a special diploid structure called a zygospore
The zygospore then produces haploid spores which are genetically unique

13. Sexual Reproduction of the Fungal Kind
In club and sac fungi, when hyphae from two different fungi join they form a dikaryotic hyphae
Dikaryotic cells are unique to the fungi kingdom; they contain two nuclei
On nuclei in the dikaryotic cell is from one parent, the second is from the other parent

14. Sexual Reproduction of the Fungal Kind
The dikaryotic hyphae then grows into a fruiting body above the ground
Eventually the dikaryotic nuclei fuse, forming a single diploid nucleus
The diploid nucleus then divides into haploid spores and the cycle continues

16. Overview of the Kingdom Fungi

17. Reproduction and Fungi
Asexual reproduction allows fungi to disperse throughout the environment without the need of additional genetic input
Sexual reproduction increases genetic diversity of the fungi, allowing them to adapt to changing environmental conditions
Biologists use the reproductive structures of fungi to classify them into 4 different phyla

18. How Fungi Resproduce…