Question

Chapter 16: Fungi

1. List some of the vital ecological functions that fungi perform in ecosystems. How else do they benefit humans?

2. Explain why/how fungal body form often makes fungi good decomposers.

Chapter 17: Animals

1. What advantage might bilateral symmetrical animal have over radially symmetrical animals?

2. List 4 key characteristics of all animals

3. Two brothers share the same father but have different mothers. Compare and contrast the mitochondrial and nuclear DNA profiles of the brothers.

Answer 1

1, the balance of the ecosystem relies on the functions done by fungi because

a, They are heterotrophs, decomposers- decompose dead and decaying organisms into nutrients which is not just used by them but also all the other organisms.Phosphorous and nitrogen is recycled back to its cycle by its release from the decomposition processed by fungi.

B, fungi is mutually connected in association with algae, roots of trees called as lichen and mycorrhiza respectively. they supply nutrients to both the algae and plants(nitrogen fixation)

C, Fungi those are edible is consumed by human, so they are source of food. mostly muahrooms like agaricus is consumed

D, Fungi produce secondary metabolites such as penicillin which is used to control both human and animal diseases.

E,Fungi can be used as a pest controller.and a biocontrol agent. The spores of fungi are uses to control pests. Ez- chinese caterpillar fungi

2, fungal decomposers

The fungi are primary decomposers. Unlike other microbes, they are multicellular and possess hyphae- the branching network which can penetrate deep into the dead organic matter and absorb the nutrients. fungi also produces exoenzymes which has the capacity to break down molecules like lignin, cellulose.

The hyphae and the exoenzymes are two things that makes fungi best among the decomposers.