Name and describe an example of a parasitic relationship involving a fungus.
Answer (3)
an example of a parasitic relationship, involving a fungus, is bread with breadmold (molds are fungi)
parasitic relationships are unfair and one sided - the parasite feeds off the host, and the host's energy/nutrients/water supply are drained. the relationship eventually comes to an end once the fungus has completely sucked the water and nutrients out of the host, or disintegrated it into nothing, or the fungus is killed or taken off/out of the host.
Example of a Parasitic Relationship Involving a Fungus
An example of a parasitic relationship involving a fungus is Dutch elm disease. This disease began affecting Dutch Elm trees across the United States around 1950, leading to the decline and near elimination of these trees. The causative agent of this disease is a fungus that was spread by beetles. As the beetles moved from tree to tree, they carried the fungal spores with them. When the fungus enters the tree, it penetrates and breaks down its tissues, which disrupts the flow of water and nutrients, eventually killing the tree.
Another example of a fungus in a parasitic relationship is Cordyceps, which is known to grow on insects. The Cordyceps fungus takes over an insect host, grows within it, and ultimately kills it, benefiting from the nutrients of the insect's body.
In contrast to their parasitic behavior, fungi can also form mutualistic relationships with other organisms. For instance, mycorrhiza involves a symbiotic association between fungi and plant roots, and lichens involve a mutualistic relationship between fungi and either cyanobacteria or green algae.
Dutch elm disease is caused by the fungus Ophiostoma ulmi and leads to the death of elm trees by infecting their vascular system, spread by the elm bark beetle. Another example is the Cordyceps fungus, which infects and kills insects. Both examples illustrate how parasitic fungi obtain nutrients at the expense of their hosts.
;
