How does Pilobolus distribute its spores?
Because the animals avoid foraging near their excrement, the fungi use a phototropic (light-following) squirt-gun mechanism to disperse their sporangia up to 3 metres (10 feet) away from the parent fungus and onto uncontaminated vegetation.
What characteristics of Pilobolus increase its spore dispersal?
The big problem for the fungus is how to make sure an animal eats its spores. Herbivores avoid eating near their own poop, so Pilobolus must get its spores off of the dung. Its unique sporangia allow the spores to be dispersed far away from the offending dung.
What makes Pilobolus fungi unique?
The genus Pilobolus contains a special group of species that should be considered for the fastest organisms on the planet-relative to its small size. These fungi that inhabit grasslands have evolved a pretty unique form of spore dispersal that ensures a competitive edge over other coprophagous (dung feeding) fungi.
How do Pilobolus fungi reproduce?
Like other fungi, Pilobolus spreads spores around to reproduce (sexually). It has a spectacular way of doing this, shooting spores off at tremendous speed. The spores can reach an acceleration of 210.000 m/s2 (meter per second, per second).
What unique behavior does the fungus Pilobolus have which increases its fitness as a species?
It is unique in that it adheres its spores to vegetation, so as to be eaten by grazing animals. It then passes through the animals' digestive systems and grows in their feces.
How the force is generated for sporangium discharge in Pilobolus?
Discharge of the sporangium occurs when a ring of cell wall at the tip of the vesicle fractures, propelling the sporangium and jet of sporangiophore fluid over a horizontal distance of up to 2.5 m (Figure 3.14). The average launch speed is 9 m per second or 32 km per hour.
What are Pilobolus spores called?
Pilobolus (Zygomycete), Basidiobolus, and Entomophthora In the commonest species, Pilobolus kleinii, a black-pigmented sporangium filled with 30,000–90,000 spores forms at the tip of the sporangiophore. The sporangiophore is usually 2–5 mm in height and its sporangium has a diameter of 0.5 mm.
What is the advantage of Pilobolus aiming at light?
The Pilobolus fungus has an interesting way of making sure the next generation has a good start on life. At high speed, the fungus shoots a sac that contains spores toward a light source. Why toward a light source? Because that is where it is most likely to find an open area with grass.