Kingdom: Fungi

Ecological Decomposers

Kirk Larson

(2/26/07)

Charateristics of Fungi

All fungi are nonmotile except chytrids.

All fungi are haploid and follow the haploid life cycle (see: life cycles)

All fungi abosorb nutrients by extracellular digestsion. Most are saprophytes (decomposers), but some are symbionts or parasites.

Fungi form a vegetative body called a thallus made up of root-like structures called hyphae. A mass of hyphae is called a mycelium.

Cell walls compose primarily of chitin (see: biochemistry)

Classification of Fungi

(see: classification outline)

Domain- Eukaryota

Kingdom- Fungi

Phylum (Division) - Chytridiomycota - Unicellular, motile fungal species

Glomeromycota - Unicellular, non-motile fungal species

Zygomycota - Coencocytic Hyphates, reproduction via formation of zygosporangia

Ascomycota - Septatate Hyphae, reproduction via asci and ascospores

Basidiomycota - Compelx septate hyphae, reproduction via basidia and basidiospores

Lichens (Ascomycota and Basidiomycota) - Endosymbiotic Obligates

Source: Wikipeida: Fungi Collage: (upper left - a basidiocarp, upper right - a cup fungus,

lower left - bread mold SEM, middle - bread mold LM, lower right bread mold 1X)

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