Kingdom Fungi

Biology 11

S.Dosman

1. According to fossil records, how long have fungi been present on Earth?

• Fossil evidence has shown us that fungi have been present on the earth’s surface for about 900 million years.

2. What change occurred in the evolution of fungi that sent it on a different pathway than

plants?

• About 570 million years ago fungi adapted to a heterotrophic way of life which caused it to evolve differently from plants.

3. Using chart form, outline the major

differences between plants and fungi. Plants Fungi

Have one nucleus per cell Often have several nuclei per cell

Mostly autotrophic Heterotrophic (extracellular digestion)

Starch is main storage molecule Have few or no storage molecules

Most have roots Have no roots, contain mycelium instead

Have cellulose in cell walls Often have chitin in cell walls, some have cellulose

Some reproduce by seeds None reproduce by seeds

4. What are the two main functions that fungi are adapted for?

• Fungi are adapted for reproduction and the absorption of nutrients

5. Fully explain digestion in fungi.

• Fungi are heterotrophic and their digestion is extracellular (outside the cells).

• Fungi release digestive enzymes into their surroundings which digest organic matter and then the digested nutrients are absorbed by the fungi.

6. What is the mycelium and what is its function?

• The mycellium are a collection of microscopic branching filaments which are located on or below the surface of the substrate (what the fungi is attached to).

• The mycellium is made up of individual hyphae and they absorb nutrients.

7. Name the three divisions of the Fungi kingdom and identify the defining characteristic of division. Include and example of each type.

Division Characteristic Example

Mastigomycota Produce flagellated spores and contain cellulose in cell walls.

Water moulds, chytrids

Amastigomycota Produce nonmotile spores and contain chitin in cell walls.

Common moulds, yeasts,

mushrooms

Deuteromycota Terrestrial; sac and club fungi. Also known as imperfect fungi.

Parasitic fungi and

pathogenic fungi.

8. What is a saprophyte?

• A saprophyte is an organism that obtains its nutrients from dead or organic matter.

• Some fungi are examples of saprophytes and they are very important decomposers.

9. Fully explain the two methods of reproduction in fungi.

• Fungi reproduce by either sexual or asexual reproduction. 

• In sexual reproduction spores are produced which are the reproductive cells and they are usually dispersed by air currents.  Once they are in a suitable environment they will germinate. 

• Asexual reproduction in fungi is called fragmentation.  Fragmentation involves a part of the mycellium of the fungi breaking off and becoming a new organism.

10. Why are fungi considered to be a part of nature’s recycling system?

• Fungi are considered part of nature’s recycling system because they are decomposers. 

• They transform complex organic substances into raw materials that can be used by other organisms for growth and development.

11. List some ways fungi are beneficial to humans.

Humans use fungi in the following ways:• To make beer, wine, and bread• To produce antibiotics• To flavor soft drinks• To be consumed as food• To decompose harmful pollutants• To break down complex hazardous

chemicals

12. What is a symbiotic relationship?

• A symbiotic relationship is shared between two organisms and both benefit from the arrangement or interaction. 

• For example, there are some symbiotic relationships between the hyphae of fungi and the roots of plants.  The hyphae assist the plant roots in absorbing needed nutrients and the plant provides sugars made during photosynthesis to the fungi.

13. Explain why lichens can actually be

considered two organisms in one. • Lichens are often referred to as two organisms in

one or a dual organism because it consists of a green photosynthetic partner and a heterotrophic fungal partner. 

• The photosynthetic partner is usually green algae and the fungus is normally a sac fungus. 

• The green algae provides and shares carbohydrates produced during photosynthesis with the fungus and the fungus provides carbon dioxide and water to the green algae for photosynthesis.

14. Fully explain how lichens can be used to monitor air quality

• Lichens can be used to monitor air quality because they absorb their water from the air. 

• Organisms that absorb water from the soil are absorbing water that has been filtered but lichens absorb all of the pollutants and toxic substances found in the air. 

15. Name and describe three types of lichens.

• Crustose is a flat and crusty species of lichen that forms on tree bark and rocks. 

15. Name and describe three types of lichens.

• Foliose are a species of lichen with  leaflike lobes that spread outward giving it a paperlike appearance. 

15. Name and describe three types of lichens.

• Fruticose is a lichen with raised structures containing stalks and branching threads.  They may hang from trees.