1. IV. The Domain Eukarya Overview: Origin of the Eukarya
C. Diversity of Eukarya

2. The Opisthokont Clade IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi Fungi
1. Overview:
The Opisthokont Clade
Fungi
Choanoflagellates
Animals

3. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi Overview: “Body Plan”

4. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi mycelium Overview: “Body Plan”
mycelium

5. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi Big mushrooms
Overview:
“Body Plan”
Big mushrooms
Earliest fungal-like fossils (septate networks) date to 1.4 bya, lived in benthic marine habitats. Fungi remain important decomposers in marine and freshwater ecosystems
Colonized land in Cambrian, before plants; maybe as lichenous symbiotes. Prototaxites of the Silurian was 8m tall and 1m wide!

6. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi Overview: “Body Plan” Ecological Roles
- decomposers

7. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi Overview: “Body Plan” Ecological Roles
- decomposers
- parasites/pathogens/predators

8. Lichens: fungus + algae or cyanobacteria
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
Overview:
“Body Plan”
Ecological Roles
- symbionts
Lichens: fungus + algae or cyanobacteria
Arbuscular mycorrhizae – found in 80% of vascular plant families; in oldest vascular plant fossils (Rhynie Chert – 420 mya)

9. Increase absorptive surface area of root system
IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
Overview:
“Body Plan”
Ecological Roles
- symbionts
Increase absorptive surface area of root system
Secreted enzymes increase absorption of N and P in particular
Can connect to plants of different plant species, and even transfer nutrients between them
One species may attract and poison insects (springtails), and digest and absorb their nitrogen (up to 25% of a plants nitrogen budget!)
Present in oldest vascular plant fossils, and molecular analyses confirm an ancient association which may have been critical for plants to colonize land

10. Phylogeny of the fungal kingdom.
Phylogeny of the fungal kingdom. Major fungal groups colored as indicated by text to right. Diamonds indicate evolutionary branch points, and their approximate dating (bottom), captured by fungal genomes sequenced in or in progress.
Galagan J E et al. Genome Res. 2005;15:
©2005 by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press

11. IV. The Domain Eukarya E. Fungi Overview: “Body Plan” Ecological Roles
Generalized Life Cycle
Fungal Diversity

12. IV. The Domain Eukarya
E. Fungi
Overview:
“Body Plan”
Ecological Roles
Generalized Life Cycle
Fungal Diversity
- Chytridomycota
40% of amphibian populations are in decline worldwide, probably due to a combination of climate change, pollution, habitat loss and degradation, and chytrid fugal infections.

13. 5. Fungal Diversity - Basidiomycota