The Kingdom Fungi
Did you know that fungi are more closely related to humans than they are to plants?
Fungi are heterotrophic eukaryotes, which means that they obtain their energy from other organisms. Biotrophic fungi derive nutrients from living organic matter, saprotrophic fungi derive nutrients from dead organic matter, and necrotrophic fungi infect and kill hosts for nutrients. Fungi provide important services to humans and ecosystems. They permit the fermentation of many food products including alcohol, cheese, and bread; provide crucial chemicals for medicines; ensure the survival of many plant species; recycle dead organic matter; and so much more! Scientists have identified around 140,000 species of fungi, but it is estimated that there is a total of 1.5 million fungi on earth! Many of the mushrooms that you find on a walk through the woods are ascomycetes or basidiomycetes, which can come in many shapes and sizes.