Biol 1A - Lecture 9

Biology 1A Sept 29, 1998
Lecture 9 - Fungi

Page Contents :

Stern:

(A bullet indicates a handout.)

I. Fungi are filamentous, multicellular, haploid organisms.

II. Fungi play many vital roles in terrestrial ecosystems.

III. Survey of fungal diversity.

IV. Other fungus-like organisms.

V. A lichen is a symbiotic association between a fungus and an alga.

How are fungi important to plants? How can they be harmful?
Why are certain fungi called "imperfect"?
What are the six defining characteristics of fungi? Are any of these features found in other organisms? Which ones and which organisms?
How is the method by which fungi obtain food different from animals? How is it similar?
While hiking, you come across a log that has been partially decomposed. The log is dark brown, and is brittle so that chunks flake off easily in your hand. Explain what has happened to the log during decomposition.
What are mycorrhizae and why are they so important?
Why does the fungal disease ringworm produce circular patches of damaged skin? Why is a fungal disease like ringworm often so much more difficult to treat than a bacterial disease?
Which fungi are essential for brewing? How are they important in the brewing process?
How do we know that chytrids are truly fungi? How are they like other fungi? How are they different?
Which fungi are coenocytic? Which have septate filaments? Which produce a dikaryon stage?
Diagram and explain the steps involved in the production of ascospores in an ascus.
Diagram and explain the steps involved in the production of basidiospores in a basidium.
Of the four major groups of basidiomycetes, which are primarily parasites?
How do we know that slime molds are not truly fungi? How do we know that water molds are not?
What is a lichen?
Are lichen "species" the same as other kinds of species? Why or why not?