Mycology questions about Fungi

[DanielJTyre]

Fungi are a separate branch of the evolutionary tree to my understanding, how to they differ from the different branches? How are they the same? How does point of original effect how a fungi behaves? How has human interaction effected fungi evolution over time?

[hypervalent_iodine]

Is this for homework?

[DanielJTyre]

If you are at home and think of it as work then yes. If you love what you do and enjoy sharing knowledge then I wouldn't think of it as work.

 

I asked about Fungi because I think of them as separate from plants or animals (along with the other kingdoms but for this moment I'll focus on these 2), meaning they can work in conjunction with both plants and animals. Thinking that way means plants, animals, and fungi can work in conjunction with each other for tasks like pollution clean up over time or medical treatment if time and effort is put into understanding how the different kingdoms can work together towards a single goal. The how I don't know because fungi are studied as a plant for food consumption in the U.S. to my knowledge. (I have always had an aversion to mushrooms because I see I don't see them as a plant)

[Sensei]

There is quite a lot of knowledge presented on Wikipedia. I would start your journey from it:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungus

If you will have some specific question, feel free to ask.

1 hour ago, DanielJTyre said:

meaning they can work in conjunction with both plants and animals.

Everything "work" together with everything. But it is not conscious cooperation, like between humans. e.g. there are microbes in guts which are required for animal guts to work.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gut_flora

1 hour ago, DanielJTyre said:

Thinking that way means plants, animals, and fungi can work in conjunction with each other for tasks like pollution clean up over time or medical treatment if time and effort is put into understanding how the different kingdoms can work together towards a single goal.

...you're thinking and writing like humanist.. that there is some hidden conscious "conspiracy" between plants, animals, microbes, fungi, algae etc. etc...

I will show you how cooperation evolves during evolution on the example:

We have species A, B. A has enemy C. B has enemy D. C is afraid of B, and D is afraid of A.

A alone is attacked by C.

B alone is attacked by D.

A+B together is more evolutionary successful, as they protect each other against their enemies.

A and B dies, being eaten by C & D. A+B together survives and continues to "work" together. It's not conscious willingful cooperation.

1 hour ago, DanielJTyre said:

The how I don't know because fungi are studied as a plant for food consumption in the U.S. to my knowledge.

.. I doubt that... Maybe in very very very weak school..

1 hour ago, DanielJTyre said:

(I have always had an aversion to mushrooms because I see I don't see them as a plant)

..because they are not plants..

 

Edited July 5, 2019 by Sensei