What I appreciated most about this field trip is how it shed light on the importance of fungi to our lives as we know them. I found myself most fascinated by the important symbiotic relationship between fungi and the roots of land plants. Karina explained that ectomycorrhizal and endomycorrhizal fungi evolved together. This means that fungi played an important part in ancestral populations' transition to land, by helping them extract nutrients from the soil and live in communities (Cairney 467). Today, 90% of plants have a mutualistic relationship with fungi by way of roots (Cairney 467). From this mutually beneficial relationship, the fungus receives sugars and other nutrients from the plant, while the plant receives protection and greater nutrient absorption from the fungus (Molina 78).
Not only is the relationship mutually beneficial, most mycorrhizal fungi and many plants have bleak chances of survival without their symbiosis (Molina 79). Mycorrhiza and plants are co-dependent. Upon further research, I also found that mycorrhizal fungi play an important role in the forest nutrient cycle and provide food to other organisms by their fruiting bodies and spores (Molina 78).
A well known example of an ectomycorrhizal fungi fruiting body is the chanterelle mushroom, pictured below.
From wikipedia.com/chanterelle
Without these fungi, we wouldn’t have plants. Without plants, we wouldn’t have animals. That means we wouldn’t exist. Life as we know it would not be here. Who knew fungi were such a big deal?
Works Cited
Cairney, J.W.G. "Evolution of mycorrhiza systems.” Naturwissenschaften (2000) 87: 467-75. Web. 1 May 2016.
Molina, Randy. "The Role of Mycorrhizal Symbioses in the Health of Giant Redwoods and Other Forest Ecosystems.” USDA Forest Service (1994) 151: 78-81. Web. 1 May 2016.
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