Fungi Scavenger Hunt

Module 3: Portfolio Activity

Part 1 Fungal Spore print

The following mushrooms came from my front yard. The two mushrooms in the plastic container made a spore print on the white paper. The single saturated brown mushroom top made a white spore print on the green paper. The mushroom was originally white, but after the spore print, it turned brown and mushy.

Part 2

For this part of the activity I went out around the neighborhood and looked for different types of fungi. The identification chart I made is was for identifying and classifying the different fungal types I might see. In the photograph and record section is where I posted the various pictures I took.

Identification chart

Fungal Groups

Zygomycota

Ascomycota

Basidiomycota

Mycorrhizae

Lichen

Mucoromycota and Zoopagomycota

Sac fungi/Ascomycetes

basidiomycota-yeast

Ectomycorrhizas and Endomycorrhizas

Types of Licens: Crustose, Foliose, Fruticose

Fungi i was able to Locate, photograph, and record

Zygomycota

Where you found it
- On a dead plant in the wooded part of a park in Washington.
A brief description of the environment where you found it
- This fungus is mainly found in soil or on decaying animals or plant or material. The fungus I found was growing from a dead/decaying log in a wooded area near a park. The area was moist with little light.
The benefits or harm of the fungi being in the location
- Zygomycota fungi have the ability to cause human disease and can make people extremely ill. On the other hand, this fungi is useful for degrading organic materials that would otherwise remain for long periods of time.
A color photo of you and the fungi (If you prefer not to appear in the photo with the fungus, choose an object, to represent you in the photo) or a picture of your sketch.

Ascomycota

Basidiomycota

Where you found it
- On a fallen log near a neighbor’s house in Florida.
A brief description of the environment where you found it
- The fungus I found was growing from a freshly fallen log on the outskirts of my neighbor's property. The area was dry with sufficient light.
The benefits or harm of the fungi being in the location
- Some species of Ascomycota are edible and are harmless to humans and animals. Some are used in medicines like penicillin. On the other hand some species of Ascomycota infect the host they are growing on and can cause death or decay. A specific species known as Ergot, can be especially poisonous to humans and animals. It can negatively affect the nervous system and restrict blood vessels.
A color photo of you and the fungi (If you prefer not to appear in the photo with the fungus, choose an object, to represent you in the photo) or a picture of your sketch.

Where you found it
- On a tree stub in a nature trail in Florida.
- The other fungi I found while walking along a sidewalk in Washington. It was in a damp grassy area near the road.
A brief description of the environment where you found it
- The fungus I found was growing from a living tree stub. The tree was near the walkway on the Turkey Creek nature trail. The area was moist near the root, but dry near the top of the tree. The tree was provided with sufficient light.
The benefits or harm of the fungi being in the location
- Some species of Basidiomycota fungi are pathogens for both plants, animals, and humans. However, the pathogens produced by the fungi are not at all harmful. Some of these pathogens are able to form a symbiotic relationship with certain plant roots, by obtaining nutrients from the soil. Some basidiomycota pathogens can be harmful for wheat and other crops commonly used by humans.
A color photo of you and the fungi (If you prefer not to appear in the photo with the fungus, choose an object, to represent you in the photo) or a picture of your sketch.

Mycorrhizae

Lichen

Where you found it
- In a potted house plant I bought from the garden section in a store.
A brief description of the environment where you found it
- The potted succulent plant was sitting on the window sill. I looked over to inspect it and I saw a white fuzzy substance growing within it. Along with the white, I saw other types of green and white fungi and mold. The soil looked moist in some areas and dry in others.
The benefits or harm of the fungi being in the location
- Mycorrhizal fungi mainly aid in the aggregation process and stimulate microbial activity that is beneficial to various plants. These fungi are benefitting plants by allowing them to draw more nutrients and water from the soil. They also help the plant to tolerate high levels of different environmental stresses.
A color photo of you and the fungi (If you prefer not to appear in the photo with the fungus, choose an object, to represent you in the photo) or a picture of your sketch.

Where you found it
- On many trees near my house and around my neighborhood. I also found some on trees and fallen branches at the park.
A brief description of the environment where you found it
- Some Lichens I found near the root of a tree surrounded by water. Others I found populating the branches and trunk of the trees on dry land. The lichens varied in color and size. Most of them were either white or green, but some were red or pink. Other lichen formations were small, but some were very large.
The benefits or harm of the fungi being in the location
- Lichens are useful for providing shelter to various organisms. Many animals often use the material grown from lichens to build their nests. Lichens can also be a source of food for different herbivores. Lichens can harm rock environment if they are allowed to grow on them. Some species of lichen that grow on rocks excuse chemicals that contribute to the breakdown of rocks. This phenomenon isn't all bad, in that it aids in soil production.
A color photo of you and the fungi (If you prefer not to appear in the photo with the fungus, choose an object, to represent you in the photo) or a picture of your sketch.