Lab Topic 14 Protists and Fungi, Part 2

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Lab Worksheet

Lab Topic 14 Protists and Fungi, Part 2

Biology 211

Fall 2005

Use the following as a resource as you complete the lab assignment.

ATLAS FIGURES AND COLOR PLATES

Lab Study A. Division Zygomycota

Zygote fungi Atlas pgs. 46-47; Color plate 18.

Lab Study B. Division Ascomycota

Sac Fungi Color Plate 29; Atlas pgs.45, 47-50, see in particular, Peziza (Figures 5.11 and 5.12), Claviceps (Figure 5.13);.

Lab Study C. Division Basidiomycota

Club Fungi Atlas pgs. 52-55.

Lab Study D. Division Deuteromycota

Imperfect Fungi Atlas Figure 5.16, p. 51.

Lab Study E. Lichens Atlas pgs. 55-56

IN-LAB ASSIGNMENT

Exercise 14.2 The Kingdom Fungi

Lab Study A. Division Zygomycota - Zygote fungi (1.25 pt)

1.   Review the Introduction (pgs 380-381).

2.   Complete the Procedure (p. 381-382).

Procedure 2. It is important that you view your sample under the dissecting scope.

Procedure 3a. Compare your observations with the following images:

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/rhizopus.htm

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/network.htm

Procedure 3b. Point out the sporangia, mycelia, and hyphae of Rhizopus to your lab instructor. Is your culture reproducing sexually or asexually? ______Instructor’s initials ______

Procedure 4a. List the structures labeled in the following figure that are visible in your culture.

Procedure 4b. Circle the structures that are involved in asexual reproduction.

Procedure 6a.

Procedure 6b.

Procedure 6c.

Procedure 6d.

Procedure 7. Use the live cultures and the following image to make your observations: http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/pilobolu.htm

Just for Fun: If you have time, look at these images of other fungi found on dung:

Coprophilous Fungi (Dung Lovers)

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/oct01.htm

Procedure 8. Point out the sporangia, mycelia, and hyphae of Pilobolus to your lab instructor. Initials ______

Discussion

Complete discussion questions 1-2 (p. 383).

1.

2. (Hint: Review intro on p. 381 and use the handout provided in your lab bench notebook.)

Lab Study B. Division Ascomycota – Sac Fungi (1.25 pt)

1.   Review the Introduction (p. 383-384).

2.   Complete Procedure (p. 384).

Procedure 1. Examine your specimen using the dissecting scope. Compare your observations to the following images:

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/peziza.htm http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/ppraeter.htm

Procedure 2.

Procedure 3.

Procedure 4. Using the dried material available and the images from the websites listed below, sketch your morel. Indicate where the asci are located.

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/m1.htm

Just for fun – neat morel site; Shows false morels that look like morels but will make you very sick! http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/morels.htm

Procedure 5. Follow the Procedure using dried materials of ergot and the following image:

http://www.botany.hawaii.edu/faculty/wong/BOT135/LECT12.HTM

3.   Point out an ascocarp, ascus, and ascospore to your lab instructor, using preserved specimen or prepared microscope slide and the microscope camera. Lab Instructor’s Initials ______

4. Other sac fungi: Which of the following Ascomycetes are also found on your student tray?

·  Two for one pizza!

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCE2002/newpage4.htm

·  Rhytisma punctatum infection on maple leaf http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/rhytisma.htm

·  Remember this image as you will work with it again during the first lab for Biology 213 http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/sordsqua.htm

·  Really good picture of another sac fungi and found in Northwest

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/SAC%20FUNGI/aleuria.htm

·  http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCE2002/taphrina.htm

·  http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/bulgaria.htm

5. Turn in answer to Discussion question (p. 385).

Lab Study C. Division Basidiomycota – Club Fungi (1.25 pt)

1.   Review the Introduction (p. 385).

2.   Vote your choice of the most interesting fungus, by indicating the row and picture numbers: row______picture ______

WILD AND WEIRD FUNGI http://www.fungiphoto.com/CTLG/SYS1/B.w&w.html

3.   Complete Procedure (1-4), turning in steps 2 and 3 (p. 385-386).

Procedure a. Notice that your lab instructor has already prepared spore prints for you. Spore print site: http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/newpage3.htm

Procedure 1b. Design a method to determine how many spores a single mushroom contains.

Procedure 2.

Procedure 3.

4. Identify a basidium and basidiospore to your lab instructor, using a prepared slide. Initials______

5. Answer Discussion question, p. 387.

Lab Study D. Division Deuteromycota - Imperfect Fungi (1.00 pt)

1.   Review Introduction, p. 3.

2.   Complete Procedure (1-2), turning in your description of the texture and color of mycelium (p. 387). To make your observations, use the lab culture and the following images.

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/penicill.htm

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCE2002/hairpeni.htm

Lab Study E. Lichens (1.00 pt)

1.   Review Introduction, page 388.

2.   Complete Procedure and turn in Results (p. 389), using live lab materials and the following images. Remember to saturate your lab lichen with water.

Rock lichens

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljan98b.htm

Fruticose lichens

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljan98c.htm

Foliose lichens

http://waynesword.palomar.edu/pljan98c.htm

3.   Show your lab instructor examples of the three types of lichens. Initials ______

Challenge questions (1.25) (Choose and answer one of the following questions).

1. Many fungi produce antibiotics, such as penicillin, that are valuable in medicine.

a) Develop some hypotheses to answer the question: “Of what possible value are antibiotics to the fungi that produce them? How could you gather evidence to support at least one of your hypotheses?

b) As they digest their food, fungi often produce tastes and odors that are unpleasant to humans. Develop some hypotheses to answer these questions, “ What might be the value of these chemicals to the fungi? To other organisms that might eat the decomposing food? How might the production of antibiotics and odors evolved?”

Supplemental Lab Study: Fungal Interactions with Other Organisms

·  Destroying nematode fungi

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/N-D%20Fungi/n-dfungi.htm

·  Banana slug eating mushroom http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2004/bananasl.htm

·  Amoeba eating fungus http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/amoeboph.htm

·  Fungal fly killer http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/entomoph.htm

·  Fungi growing on a nematode (roundworm) http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/verticll.htm

·  It is amazing what turns up when you turn things over!

http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISC2003/ganoinse.htm

·  Gun Cell Fungus Haptoglossa mirabilis - http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/july00.htm

Practice exams questions:

1. All fungi share which one of the following characteristics?

a. symbiotic

b. heterotrophic

c. flagellated

d. pathogenic

e. saprobic

2. Which of the following cells or structures are associated with asexual reproduction in fungi?

a. ascospores

b. basidiospores

c. conidia

d. zygosporangia

e. ascogonia

Clean and reorganize your workspace for the next lab group. Remove slides from microscopes and turn nosepiece to lowest objective. ______Initials

A FEW FACTS ABOUT FUNGI

1. In the classification of living things the FUNGI are now recognized as a separate kingdom.

2. It is estimated that there are over a MILLION species of FUNGI but only about 10% have been officially described in the scientific literature.

3. As agents of PLANT DISEASE, FUNGI cause annual crop losses in excess of THREE BILLION dollars annually in North America.

4. Along with the plants themselves, FUNGI are THE major players in the CARBON CYCLE.

A. SAPROPHYTIC FUNGI are the primary agents responsible for the biodegradation of plants and woody debris (cellulose and lignified cellulose). EIGHTY-FIVE BILLION tons of carbon is returned annually to the atmosphere as carbon dioxide by decay of cellulose and lignified cellulose. Most of this is by fungi.

B. MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI form intimate associations (MUTUALISTIC SYMBIOSIS) with the roots of higher plants. The fungal hyphae function in place of root hairs for the absorption of water and minerals. These mycorrhizal fungi can also protect the roots from attack by other fungi. Each forest tree has hundreds of thousands of kilometres of hyphae supplying it with water and inorganic salts. In return the tree supplies the fungus with sugars (carbohydrates) manufactured in its leaves.

5. BEVERAGES. The average person consumes beverages produced by fungi on a daily basis. All the citric acid used in soft drinks, candies, artificial lemon juice, baked goods etc. (check the labels) is produced industrially by fungus fermentation using Aspergillus niger. The yeast fungus (Saccharomyces cereviseae) is used in fermentation processes that result in the production of beers, wines and spirits (billions of gallons!)

6. OTHER FOOD PRODUCTS. The yeast fungus Saccharomcyes is also used in the leavening of bread and other baked products. The blue mould, Penicillium, is used in the ripening process to prepare speciality cheeses such as blue cheeses e.g. Roquefort, Gorgonzola, Stilton etc. and soft cheeses such as Camembert and Brie.

7. ANTIBIOTICS from FUNGI. There are a number of important antibiotics produced industrially by fungal fermentation for use as medicines in humans and animals. These include penicillin by Penicillium chrysogenum, cephalosporin by Acremonium (=Cephalosporium), griseofulvin by Penicillium griseofulvin etc.

8. ANTI-REJECTION DRUGS. The anti-rejection drug CYCLOSPORINE is in large part responsible for the current success in organ transplants. It is produced by the FUNGUS Tolyplocladium.

9. ALLERGENS. We breathe in spores of FUNGI on a daily basis. The so-called clean country air may contain as many as 10,000 fungal spores per cubic metre. Also fungi grow very nicely in and around houses. Fungi sporulating in basements and bathrooms can become a significant component of house dust and a major problem for those with mould allergies.

Those who are prone to allergies can become sensitized to many one of a large number of fungal species. Only those that reach significant levels in the air and that are of fairly common occurrence are important as human allergens. These include Penicillium, Aspergillus, Alternaria and Cladosporium.

10. FUNGI and RELIGION. There is evidence to suggest that some religions are based on prehistoric mushrooms cults that were incorporated into religious rites by the shamans of these primitive tribes.

11. FUNGUS PROTEIN. In future years FUNGI may be used to produce protein for human consumption. Some years ago ICI (Great Britain) developed and marketed fungal protein as a meat substitute. The day of the Fungusburger is at hand! Although, to be honest, I haven’t heard much about this for some years.

12. FOREST SOILS. In forest soils other than plant roots the FUNGI are the dominant life forms. It is estimated that the FUNGUS biomass (weight of living stuff) is 90% of the total. All the rest together including nematodes, rotifers, bacteria, protozoa, earthworms, snails, insects, insect larvae, etc weigh the other 10%. Under the ground there is a network of fungal hyphae stretching across our land. The thousands of species of mushrooms found in the forest are the fruitbodies of some of these fungi. But remember most fungi are microscopic and are invisible to our eyes.

13. AGRICULTURAL SOILS. In agricultural soils the biomass of FUNGI is equal to about 1250 kg per hectare and equals the weight of all other groups combined. That is to say there is living stuff in the soil equal to the weight of about 50 sheep per hectare of land and half of that is FUNGUS.

14. STREAM ECOLOGY. In streams and rivers most of the energy comes from wind blown leaves and plant debris arriving at the stream from outside (autochthonus). Only a small component comes from the resident aquatic plants and algae. The plant debris is high in carbohydrate but low in nitrogen (high C/N ratio). Aquatic fungi colonize the leaves and lower the C:N and make them more palatable (nutritionally useful) to detritus feeding arthropods (such as Gammarus) that are at the base of the foodchain.

Source: http://www.uoguelph.ca/%7Egbarron/MISCELLANEOUS/facts.htm