Fungi Field Trip by Reylene Pineda

Figure 1: Two types of lichens that shows a mutualistic relationship with a moss. 

This is an example of a lichen, the white part are the leaves which is determined to be the Foliose as it has the leaf-like structure and the "witch's hair" are known to be fruitocose because it seems to have that mini-forest trend. These types of lichens shows a mutualistic relationships with another organism, the fungi offers protection of the moss and the nutrients absorbed by them while the photosynthetic organisms provides constant food supply to fungi.

Figure 2: A sick tree, it's undergrowth is dead

This tree lost its co-dominant branch due to fungal disease. The disease ate all the heartwood and made it hollow enough to fall off when the wind strike. As the fungus eats this tree, it secretes the sap (white part of the tree on figure 2) which tell us that it is a sick tree and will eventually die. This is another example of a mutualistic relationship, a fungus and a plant; where plants provide an easy access to food for fungi and plants benefits from fungi due to it's mycelia that aid in absorbing nutrients and water. However, these fungi are pathogenic and are slowly killing this tree.  D: 

Karina has touched a lot of other topics like ectomycorrhizal and other characteristics of fungi that may or may not be harmful to other organisms. I personally believe this outdoor experience is a better alternative than to stay inside a laboratory looking at slides because it helped me understand the materials better. I did not know anything about Lichens and other organisms that live in the forests but now there are more things to be curious about when hiking! I love nature and this is by far the best "lab" i've attend.