Fungi

1.  The fungi are one of the 4 eukaryotic kingdoms

tree of life


2.   Characteristics of fungi

3. Fungal lifestyles in brief (will be discussed further later)

4. There are four major fungal groups

fungal kingdoms

 

5. Life cycles of the different groups

Zygomycota - e.g. bread mold

rhizopus

 

Ascomycota - e.g. morels and cup fungi

ascomycota

Some members of the Ascomycota are single-celled - yeasts

yeast

 

Basidiomycota - e.g. mushrooms, puffballs, shelf fungi, etc

basidiomycota

 

Chytridiomycota - mostly aquatic

chytridiomycota


6. More about fungal lifestyles, interactions with other organisms, and human uses:

Lichens - Symbiotic relationships between lichens and algae

lichen

lichen

A lichen is composed of two different species from different kingdoms, but

Here is an informative page with LOTS more information on lichens (skim and look at photos and diagrams, or read completely if the topic intrigues you)

Lots of photos of lichens can be found here


Mycorrhizae - associations between fungi and plant roots.

Here is an informative page with LOTS more information on mycorrhizae (skim, look at photos and diagrams, etc).

Many of the mushrooms you find in forests are from mycorrhizae.

Mycorrhizae often link plants together underground!


Parasites/pathogens

There are numerous fungi that parasitize other organisms


Carnivorous fungi - some soil fungi capture and digest nematode worms!

Videos:

 

And a video discussing research on behavior that helps nematodes escape from these fungi

 


World's largest organism? - some say it is the fungus Armillaria

Information

This fungus produces thick root-like structures (called rhizomorphs) that grow out through soil in search of new trees! photo


And finally, "fungi" that are not actually fungi...... the Oomycota (water molds, downy mildews, etc). Information