Ecology and Fungi

Flashcards covering key vocabulary and concepts from the lecture notes.

Fungal Hyphae Nutrition

Fungal hyphae grow by extending at tips, secrete enzymes to digest food externally, then absorb nutrients. They are heterotrophs like animals but absorb rather than ingest.

Fungal Ecological Roles

Fungi decompose organic material, cycle nutrients, form mutualisms (e.g., mycorrhizae), produce food/medicines (e.g., antibiotics).

Fungi Decomposing Wood

Fungi break down lignin and cellulose in wood using powerful enzymes; few organisms can do this.

Yeasts

Unicellular fungi used in baking and brewing.

Molds

Filamentous fungi; some spoil food or make antibiotics.

Mycorrhizae

Fungi + plant roots; aid in nutrient uptake.

Lichens

Fungi + algae/cyanobacteria; pioneer species on rocks.

Symbiosis

Close relationship between species; types include mutualism (+/+), commensalism (+/0), and parasitism (+/-).

Mycorrhizae symbiosis

Fungi gain carbs; plants get nutrients.

Lichens symbiosis

Fungi gain carbs; algae get protection.

Pathogens symbiosis

Fungi gain nutrients; host harmed.

Endomycorrhizae

Fungi penetrate root cells.

Ectomycorrhizae

Fungi surround root cells.

Chytrids

Fungal group with flagellated spores.

Zygomycetes

Fungal group with zygospores.

Glomeromycota

Fungal group forming arbuscular mycorrhizae.

Ascomycota

Fungal group with asci (sacs).

Basidiomycota

Fungal group with basidia (clubs).

Deuteromycetes

Fungi that lack an observed sexual stage.

Animal Characteristics

Multicellular, heterotrophic, no cell walls, blastula stage.

Most Animals Characteristics

Nervous & muscle tissue.

Animal Ancestor

Flagellated protist (choanoflagellate-like).

Animal Life Cycle

Diploid adult meiosis → haploid gametes → fertilization diploid zygote → mitosis → adult.

Metamorphosis

Major change in form during development (e.g., larva to adult).

Animal Evolution Themes

Increased mobility & complexity, specialized tissues & body plans.

Animal Classification Morphology

Symmetry (radial, bilateral), coelom (absent, partial, full), germ layers (diploblast, triploblast), development (protostome, deuterostome).

Cephalization

Head development, evolved with bilateral symmetry for directed movement.

Tube-within-a-tube Body Plan

Digestive tract inside body cavity; found in worms, insects, vertebrates.

Protostome vs. Deuterostome

Developmental differences: 1. Blastopore fate (mouth vs. anus), 2. Cleavage (spiral vs. radial), 3. Coelom formation (splitting vs. outpocketing).

Animal Diversification

Evolution of body plans, feeding strategies, movement.

Plant Diversification

Driven by pollination & seed dispersal.

Herbivores

Eat plants.

Carnivores

Eat animals.

Omnivores

Eat both plants and animals.

Detritivores

Eat dead matter.

Arthropods

Phylum that rules the world in species diversity & biomass.

Ectoparasite

Lives outside host (e.g., ticks).

Endoparasite

Lives inside host (e.g., tapeworms).

Skeleton Types

Hydrostatic (fluid-filled), exoskeleton (external), endoskeleton (internal).

Ecology Levels

Organismal, population, community, ecosystem, global.

Biome

Large-scale ecological zone defined by climate and dominant vegetation.

Wallace Line

Biogeographic boundary in SE Asia separating Asian vs. Australian species.

Fitness Tradeoffs

Adaptations benefit in one environment but harm in another, driving species differences among biomes.

Ecosystem

Community + abiotic factors.

Primary Decomposers

Fungi + bacteria.

Primary Production

Creation of new biomass via photosynthesis/chemosynthesis.

Photoautotrophs

Plants, algae, cyanobacteria.

Chemoautotrophs

Certain bacteria/archaea.

Secondary Production

Biomass generation by consumers.

Food Web

Network of feeding relationships.

Trophic Pyramid

Shows energy flow/biomass at each trophic level.

GPP

Total photosynthesis.

NPP

GPP - plant respiration.

NEP

NPP - heterotrophic respiration.

Keystone Species

Large effect, low biomass.

Dominant Species

Large biomass, strong effect.

Fundamental Niche

Potential range.

Realized Niche

Actual range after competition/predation.