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Class Activities |
Chapter 31: The Fungi |
1. Relevance of Topic
Fungi are extremely important ecologically, as major decomposers.
They are also important as a source of food; many of them are considered delicacies.
They and their chemical products have been used as poisons and medications.
2. Continuity
The Fungi represent a kingdom that is phylogenetically placed between plants and animals, and they are important to both groups as food sources or symbionts.
Make connections to the previous chapter by emphasizing connections between fungi and algae.
3. Demonstration Activities
Text section 31.1
1. Introduce the kingdom by showing various photos of colorful fungus: shelf fungus on a decaying log, water molds, bread molds, mushrooms, and yeasts.
2. Discuss the importance of the group as decomposers: show a picture of various fungi growing on dead matter, preferably at the stage where the matter is still recognizable as a former organism (e.g. a dead insect).
Text section 31.2
1. Show Figure 31.1, hyphae with mycelium, as an example of how fungi grow.
2. Figure 31.2, a generalized fungal life cycle, illustrates that both sexual and asexual stages exist in a typical fungal life cycle.
Text section 31.3
1. Figure 31.4 illustrates a wide variety of basidiomycetes, commonly known as mushrooms; show this along with Figure 31.3, the life cycle for this group.
2. Bring fresh, cleaned mushrooms (obtained at the local grocery) to class and eat them, or open a discussion of how mushrooms are used in the students' favorite foods (e.g. pizza).
Text section 31.4
1. Use Figures 31.7 and 31.8 in discussing the mold Neurospora, a common ascomycetes.
2. Discuss the use of Neurospora in genetics research and exponential growth population studies.
3. Show pictures of morels and truffles (Figure 31.9) as examples of ascomycetes that are considered delicacies.
4. Show a picture of the chemical structure of LSD, and discuss its use as a recreational drug.
Text section 31.5
1. Show pictures of the damage done by deuteromycetes to skin, nails, and mucous membranes.
2. Discuss Candida albicans as an opportunistic fungus.
3. Show Penicillium growing on fruit and discuss the antibiotic penicillin and its importance in medicine.
4. Show photos of cheeses such as Roquefort and Camembert and remind students of the importance of fungi as foods and in food production.
5. Mention Dutch elm disease; show pictures of areas that have been changed dramatically by the death of elm stands.
Text section 31.6
1. Show Figures 31.10 and 31.11 and discuss the typical life cycle of the zygomycetes.
Text section 31.7
1. Show Figure 31.12 and discuss the lichen symbiosis.
2. Bring in a piece of bark covered with lichens, or obtain lichen samples from a supplier and show them in class; if possible, project images of these through a microscope to show the algae and fungi that compose them.
3. Discuss the importance of mycorrhizal associations in plant growth; show Figure 31.13.
4. Show Figures 31.14 and 31.15 and discuss mutualisms between fungi and insects.
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