Download Lichens and Fungi_2

Lichens and Fungi
Lichen

Composite organisms with a symbiotic relationship between fungus and algae.

They help each other survive.

The algae produces the food because it has chlorophyll.

The fungi absorbs water and sunlight.

It is dormant which means that it does not grow until it has a fungi or algae to complete the
relationship.

Grow on walls, tree bark, and rocks.

Can live through extreme heat or cold temperatures but die in fires- smoke or fumes.

They grow slowly and live an extremely long time.

Can take 450 years to grow the size of a quarter which is equal to less than 1mm/ year

Artic lichen can take up to 4000 years to grow.
Crustose Lichen (crusty)
Grows flat or even be embedded in
the bark or rock. It is attached by
the entire undersurface of the
lichen.
Fruticose Lichen (leaflike)
It curls up off of the surface of the
tree/ rock/ or wall and it looks like
crumbled leaves. It is attached to
the surface by many root like
threads.
Foliose Lichen (treelike)
Branch like plant, grow
upright or hangs from the
surface that it is attached to
and it is only attached at
the base.
Fungus

Fungi lack stems, leaves and roots that most
plants have.

They cannot make their own food because they
cannot photosynthesize.

They belong to their own family or group known
as a kingdom and they are not technically plants.

They live where they can absorb their food
(minerals, water from organic matter) on dead
wood, or dead animals or as tumors/parasites on
living organisms.
Two Roles of Fungus

They are the Cleaning Crew- As decomposers they eat and digest
everything. From dead animals and plants to eating things contaminated
by oil and diesel. They break it all down to create soil.

The are the Forest Restoration Crew- They help trees and plants absorb
nutrients from the soil. They also help restore habitats, reduce forest fires
and soil erosion.
Reproduction!

Fungi reproduce by producing spores that travel by air/wind until they
settle in an environment in which they can grow
Conks

Conks are a type of fungus attached to tree
trunks. They grow out from the trunks of trees
like steps or shelves and have growth rings
like trees. They appear to be soft, like
mushrooms, but they are very hard and are
firmly attached to the trunk. There are
different types of conks, found in different
colours and forms.
Mushrooms

Mushrooms, like conks, are the fruiting
body of the fungus. They produce the
spores for reproduction. Beneath the
surface of the ground or bark is the main
part of the organism (the Mycelium) that
collects the water and material for growth.
Mushrooms can be found in a wide range
of shapes, colours, and locations in the
forest. Some species are even poisonous!
Mycorrhizal Fungi

They grown on tree roots. This fungus has a
mutually beneficial relationship (a helpful)
relationship with a tree: the fungi feeds on
the sugar provided to the roots of the tree
and in return, the fungi breaks down the
nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil enabling
the tree to make use of it. The mycorrhizal
fungi have an edible black fruit called
truffles which are a delicacy and can cost
up to $2000/ kilo in the winter and $200/kilo
in the summer.