Hi all ! :D
So far, we've already explained what is fungi and it's characteristics. For today, it'll be a short one - Lifestyle of Fungi.

Fungi have three different lifestyles or ways that they obtain food:
saprobic, parasitic, and mycorrhizal.

Saprobic fungi are decomposers, or recyclers, that live on dead organic material from plants, animals, and other fungi. They can grow on a wide variety of food sources or specialists.

Parasitic fungi use living organisms as a food source, causing some diseases of plants and animals, including Dutch elm disease and ringworm. There are even fungi that attack other fungi like for example, Hypomyces.

Mycorrhizal fungi form beneficial partnerships with plants. The fungal hyphae interact with roots (mycorrhiza = fungus + root) and grow out into the soil, acting as extensions of the plant's root system.

Some fungi even have mixed lifestyles and can switch their eating habits!

Also, fungi are not dependant on light. This means they can occupy and live in dark habitats. This is because they are Heterotrophic. As said in yesterday's post, heterotrophic means that the fungi do not make their own food. This is because they do not have cholorophyll. Thus, fungi must absorb food from others. So, since they do not need the light to make food, they can live in damp and dark places.

That's all for now, we'll talk about more fungi tomorrow ! See you !