|
 Fungi
The kingdom fungi has very few organisms in the marine environment.
Most fungi are land based. These include mold and yeast.
Fungi lacks the photosynthetic pigments. Many fungi can be
decomposers. They take dead organic material and break it down
When fungi lives in a symbiotic mutalism with cyanobacteria
lichens are formed. Symbiotic mutalism means when two organisms
can live together through symbiosis. Each organism gives the
other something it needs to live. These lichens are unicellular
organisms and now have chlorophytes because of the blue-green
algae. Algae or bacteria provide rich molecules from photosynthesis.
The fungi can dissolve surfaces. When it is provided with
nutrients and structure it can produce filaments to attach to
rocks. These lichens can dissolve the surface of the rocks they
attached to. Lichens are usually seen on rocks and trees.
They are environmental indicators. When you don't see them
on rocks and plants it is because of pollutants in the air. As
early as the mid 1800's, scientists became aware that lichens
were uncommon in areas within and surrounding large towns and
cities. They began to recognize that air pollution emitted from
these urban areas was affecting the colonization and growth of
these organisms. The lichen does not do well in big cities like
Los Angeles because of the air pollution.
|