Kingdom Fungi Webquest

INTRODUCTION: In this WebQuest, the goal is to gain insight into the overall role fungi plays in relationship to other organisms. You will be directed to “click” down a pre-planned trail of discovery. It is important that you follow the trail. This will aid you in realizing your goal to discover the good and evil roles fungi play in the survival and demise of humankind.

Click on the following link, read the information on the page and answer the questions on your paper. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/fungi.html

1. Name two ecological roles of fungi.

2. What are two fungi food sources?

3. Name two human fungal diseases and two plant fungal diseases.

Click on the following link, read the information on the page and answer the questions on your paper. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/fungifr.html

4. Explain why it is hard to find fossil records in layers of rock.

5. Where was the oldest fungal fossil found, and what geologic period is it from?

Click on the following link, read the information on the page and answer the questions on your paper. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/fungilh.html

7. Why are some fungi known as Imperfect?

8. What two organisms make up Mycorrhizae? Explain how each benefit from this relationship.

Click on the following link, read the information on the page and answer the questions on your paper. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/fungi/fungimm.html

9. What makes up the cell walls of fungal cells?

10. This cell wall substance is classified as which type of organic compound (protein, carbohydrate, lipid or nucleic acid)?

Click on the following link, read the information on the page and answer the questions on your paper.

11. How are fungi used to make soy sauce?

12. What is a type of cheese made using fungi?

Fungi that cause disease

13. How can someone get athlete’s foot?

14. What are the symptoms?

15. How do you get rid of athlete’s foot?

16. If there are millions of fungi, why are there only a few hundred that are harmful to humans?

Fungi as helpers:

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/monocots/liliflorae/orchidales.html

17. How can fungus help an orchid grow?

http://herbarium.usu.edu/fun-with-fungi/penicillin

18. Who is credited with discovering Penicillin?

19. How does Penicillin work?

20. Why doesn’t Penicillin work on all bacteria?