Eukaryotes: Fungi

• What type of nutrition do fungi use?

  Absorptive heterotrophy
• What are the lifestyles of fungi?

  • Saprobic
  • Parasitic
  • Predatory
  • Mutualistic
• How do major groups of fungi differ?

  They differ in their life cycles
• Why are fungi considered sensitive indicators?

  They indicate environmental change
• When did major eukaryote lineages diversify?

  In the Precambrian
• What is the proposed ancestor of fungi?

  A unicellular protist with a flagellum
• What do fungi, choanoflagellates, and animals share?

  A common ancestor not shared by other eukaryotes
• What is a synapomorphy of fungi?

  Chitin in cell walls
• How do unicellular yeasts absorb nutrients?

  Directly through their cell surface
• What is the body structure of multicellular fungi called?

  Mycelium
• What are hyphae?

  Tubular filaments of multicellular fungi
• What strengthens hyphae in fungi?

  Chitin
• What are septate hyphae?

  Hyphae with incomplete septa
• What are rhizoids in fungi?

  Modified hyphae that anchor fungi
• What are coenocytic hyphae?

  Undivided multinucleate hyphae
• How do fungi interact with their environment?

  They have a huge surface area to volume ratio
• What do saprobic fungi do?

  They decompose non-living organic matter
• What do parasitic fungi require?

  Living hosts for growth
• What are facultative parasites?

  Parasites that can grow independently
• What are obligate parasites?

  Parasites that only grow on living hosts
• What is an example of a human pathogenic fungus?

  Candida albicans
• What is a major plant pathogen example?

  Puccinia graminis
• How do predatory fungi capture prey?

  By secreting sticky substances from hyphae
• What is mutualism in fungi?

  Both partners benefit in symbiosis
• What are lichens composed of?

  A fungus and a photosynthetic microorganism
• How do lichens survive extreme environments?

  By forming symbiotic relationships
• What do fungi obtain from their photosynthetic partners?

  Fixed carbon from photosynthetic products
• What are the three major body forms of lichens?

  1. Crustose (crust-like)
  2. Foliose (leafy)
  3. Fruticose (shrubby)
• What is mutualism in ecology?

  Both partners benefit
• What are lichens?

  Symbiosis of fungus and photosynthetic microorganism
• How do lichens survive in extreme environments?

  They can survive in harsh conditions
• How many species of lichens are there approximately?

  ~20,000 species
• What is the primary fungal component of most lichens?

  Most are Ascomycota (sac fungi)
• What types of photosynthetic components are found in lichens?

  Unicellular green alga, cyanobacterium, or both
• What is an example of a lichen that serves as a diet for reindeer?

  Reindeer moss – Cladonia subtenuis
• How do fungi benefit from their relationship with photosynthetic components in lichens?

  They obtain fixed carbon from photosynthetic products
• What do photosynthetic cells gain from their relationship with fungi in lichens?

  Favorable environment for growth
• What are the three major body forms of lichens?

  Crustose, foliose, fruticose
• How do lichens reproduce vegetatively?

  Through fragmentation of thallus or soredia
• What is sexual reproduction in lichens primarily associated with?

  Production and dispersal of haploid spores