Fungal Diversity

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to fungal diversity, morphology, reproduction, and ecological roles.

Fungi

Eukaryotic organisms that are more closely related to animals than to plants.

Chitin

A tough and flexible molecule found in the cell walls of fungi, similar to cellulose but stronger.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that obtain both energy and carbon from consuming organic material.

Absorptive nutrition

A nutritional strategy where fungi absorb nutrients from their surroundings.

Mycelium

A network of hyphae that forms the fungal body, used for absorption and structure.

Saprobes

Fungi that absorb nutrients from dead organic matter, acting as decomposers.

Mycorrhizae

A mutualistic association between fungi and plant roots, enhancing nutrient absorption.

Lichens

Symbiotic relationships between fungi and photosynthetic organisms, such as algae or cyanobacteria.

Dikaryotic

A cell containing two genetically different haploid nuclei, resulting from the fusion of two haploid hyphae.

Sporulation

The process of producing spores in fungi, which can occur both sexually and asexually.

Plasmogamy

The fusion of cytoplasm from different individuals, a step in the sexual reproduction of fungi.

Karyogamy

The fusion of nuclei from different individuals, following plasmogamy in fungal sexual reproduction.

Ecosystem roles

Functions of fungi, including being recyclers, mutualists, pathogens, parasites, and predators.

Chemotropism

Growth of fungi toward chemicals released by their food sources.

Fruiting body

The part of the fungus that produces spores, often seen above ground, such as mushrooms.

Parasitic fungi

Fungi that invade plant or animal tissue, absorb nutrients, and can disperse spores outside the host.

Antibiotic-producing bacteria

Bacteria found in leafcutter ant nests that produce antibiotics to control parasitic fungi.

Trap fungi

Fungi that set traps for nematodes to absorb them as nutrients.