Fungi Interactions

What relationships do fungi have with other organisms?

Fungi have a special role to play in ecosystems. Because they get their food from dead plants and animals, they are the reason that dead things decay. Fungi, therefore, are referred to as decomposers. This allows the food and nutrients to be returned to the soil and be made available to other organisms in the ecosystem. Without fungi we would be covered in piles of dead plants and animals that have never decomposed.

You may notice that many types of toadstools appear on the ground beneath trees. The mycelium of these fungi grows in and around the growing roots of the trees. The fungus is able to get food from the tree and also allows the tree to obtain more nutrients, such as phosphorus, from the soil. This is a beneficial relationship for both the tree and the fungus. The fungus has a source of food while the tree can withstand harsher conditions with a better nutrient supply. These type of fungi are called mycorrhizae.

Some fungi can be parasites or cause diseases. They may infect plants or animals and sometimes cause their deaths. People can also get fungal infections. Tinea and ringworm are both infections of types of fungus.