Unveiling the Fascinating World of Fungi: Evolution, Biodiversity, and Ecological Impact

1. Fungi The Evolutionary History of Biodiversity Concept 2: Analyzing the diversity of bacteria, archaea, protists, and fungi (Ch 26, 27, 28, 31)

2. But first...Try This! (from Protista) • Summarize the role of endosymbiosis in eukaryotic evolution. • Defend why protists are not considered monophyletic, but rather polyphyletic (or possiblyparaphyletic). • Justify the claim that photosynthetic protists are among the most important organisms on the planet

3. But first...Try This! (from Protista) • Summarize the role of endosymbiosis in eukaryotic evolution. • Eukaryotes acquired mitochondria/chloroplasts after an early eukaryote first engulfed and then formed an endosymbiotic association with a prokaryote

4. But first...Try This! (from Protista) • Defend why protists are not considered monophyletic, but rather polyphyletic (or possiblyparaphyletic). • In order to be monophyletic, protists would not only have to have a common ancestor and encompass all descendants from that ancestor. This is not the case.... • Some are more closely related to plants, animals, or fungi, than to each other.

5. But first...Try This! (from Protista) • Justify the claim that photosynthetic protists are among the most important organisms on the planet. • ¼ of the worlds oxygen is produced by photosynthetic protists! • Most aquatic/marine ecosystems depend on photosynthetic protists as the bottom of their food chain (producers) • Phytoplankton • Diatoms, algae, etc

6. Fungi You must know: • The characteristics of Fungi. • Important ecological roles of fungi in mycorrhizal associations, and as decomposers and parasitic plant pathogens • Refer to Ch 31 in Campbell and media resources

7. Characteristics of Fungi • Multicellular heterotrophs • Obtain nutrients by absorption • Cell wall – chitin • Hyphae, mycelium, septa • Reproduction - spores

8. Ecological Roles • Decomposers • Mycorrizal fungi • Lichens • Parasites

9. Let’s Explore!!!