Exam 31: Fungi

The Neurospora genome is quite compact, lacking many of the noncoding DNA sequences that occur in humans and many other eukaryotes. Which of the following are probable benefits of the compactness of the genome?

Arrange the following in order from largest to smallest, assuming that they all come from the same fungus.

Use the information to answer the following question. The figure depicts the outline of a large fairy ring that has appeared overnight in an open meadow, as viewed from above. The fairy ring represents the furthest advance of this mycelium through the soil. Locations A-D are all 0.5 meters below the soil surface. At which location is the mycelium currently absorbing the most nutrients per unit surface area, per unit time?

Use the following information to answer the question. In the United States and Canada, bats use one of two strategies to survive winter. They either migrate south, or they hibernate. Recently, those that hibernate seem to have come under attack by a fungus, Geomyces destructans (Gd), an attack that is occurring from Missouri to New England, Canada, and even the state of Washington. Many infected bats have a delicate, white filamentous mat on their muzzles, which is referred to as white-nose syndrome (WNS). The fungus invades the bat tissues, causes discomfort, and awakens the bat from its hibernation. The bat fidgets and wastes calories, using up its stored fat. The bat then behaves abnormally, leaving its cave during daytime in winter to search for food. Their food, primarily insects, is scarce during the winter, and the bats ultimately starve to death. Since 2006, it is estimated that over six million bats have perished from WNS. The Gd mat on the fur of the bats should be expected to consist of ________.

After cytokinesis occurs in budding yeasts, the daughter cell has a ________.

Use the following information to answer the question. Suzanne Simard and colleagues knew that the same mycorrhizal fungal species could colonize multiple types of trees. They wondered if the same fungal individual would colonize different trees, forming an underground network that potentially could transport carbon and nutrients from one tree to another (S. Simard et al. 1997. Net transfer of carbon between mycorrhizal tree species in the field. Nature 388:579-82). Pots containing seedlings of three different tree species were set up and grown under natural conditions for three years (Fig. A). Two of the three species (Douglas fir, birch)could form ectomycorrhizal connections with the same fungal species, but the third species (cedar)could not form an ectomycorrhizal connection with the fungal species. In some of the pots, the researchers placed airtight bags over the Douglas fir and birch seedlings and injected carbon dioxide made from carbon-13 into the bags with the Douglas fir and carbon dioxide made from carbon-14 into the bags with the birch. (13C and 14C are different isotopes of carbon that can be detected and measured by researchers.)As the seedlings photosynthesized, the carbon dioxide was converted into sugars that could be tracked and measured by the researchers. The researchers measured whether the sugars in each plant contained only the carbon isotope that was in the air of their plastic bag or also the carbon isotope from the air around the other plant. Figure A Referring to Simard et al. (1997), which design element is the control in this experiment and why?

Use the following information to answer the question. Suzanne Simard and colleagues knew that the same mycorrhizal fungal species could colonize multiple types of trees. They wondered if the same fungal individual would colonize different trees, forming an underground network that potentially could transport carbon and nutrients from one tree to another (S. Simard et al. 1997. Net transfer of carbon between mycorrhizal tree species in the field. Nature 388:579-82). Pots containing seedlings of three different tree species were set up and grown under natural conditions for three years (Fig. A). Two of the three species (Douglas fir, birch)could form ectomycorrhizal connections with the same fungal species, but the third species (cedar)could not form an ectomycorrhizal connection with the fungal species. In some of the pots, the researchers placed airtight bags over the Douglas fir and birch seedlings and injected carbon dioxide made from carbon-13 into the bags with the Douglas fir and carbon dioxide made from carbon-14 into the bags with the birch. (13C and 14C are different isotopes of carbon that can be detected and measured by researchers.)As the seedlings photosynthesized, the carbon dioxide was converted into sugars that could be tracked and measured by the researchers. The researchers measured whether the sugars in each plant contained only the carbon isotope that was in the air of their plastic bag or also the carbon isotope from the air around the other plant. Figure A Referring to Simard et al. (1997), what is the result that would most strongly refute their hypothesis? [Hypothesis: Sugars made by one plant during photosynthesis can travel through a mycorrhizal fungus and be incorporated into the tissues of another plant.]

Use the following information to answer the question. Heterobasidion is a basidiomycete that contributes to mortality of trees. Kuhlman isolated 23 strains of Heterobasidion and applied them to 16 seedlings of 10 different tree species. Partial results of this experiment are shown in the table. % mortality of five host species from five Heterobasidion isolates Isolate Isolate Isolate Isolate Isolate Host 63 117 195 126 118 Slash Pine 50 69 94 100 94 Shortleaf Pine 75 56 94 94 100 Red Cedar 38 32 19 50 25 Yellow-Poplar 0 0 0 6 6 6 Sycamore 0 0 0 0 6 Which of the following conclusions can best be drawn from these results?

Why are mycorrhizal fungi superior to plants at acquiring mineral nutrition from the soil?

Use the following information to answer the question. Canadian and Swiss researchers wanted to know if the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)was important to the productivity of grasslands (M.G.A. van der Heijden, J. N. Klironomos, M. Ursic, P. Moutoglis, R. Streitwolf-Engel, T. Boler, A. Wiemken, and I. R. Sanders. 1998. Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosystem variability, and productivity. Nature 396:69-72). Specifically, they wanted to know if it mattered which specific AMF species were present, or just that some type of AMF was present. They grew various plants in combination with one of four AMF species (A, B, C, and D), no AMF species (O), or all four AMF species together (A + B + C + D); and they measured plant growth under each set of conditions. All plant species were grown in each plot, so they always competed with each other with the only difference being which AMF species were present. On the graphs, the x-axis labels indicate the number and identity of AMF species (bar 0 = no fungi; bars A - D = individual AMF species; bar A + B + C + D = all AMF species together). The y-axis indicates the amount (grams)of plant biomass for the species shown in italics above each graph. Graph e is the total biomass (grams)of all 11 plant species combined; graph f is the biomass of Bromus erectus plants only, separated from the total. What is the major difference between Bromus erectus (graph f)and the other plant species (graphs a-d)included in the study?

Early fungi probably formed mutualistic associations with early plants, providing nutrients to the plant and receiving energy-containing compounds. Evidence that plants' ability to form a mutualistic association with fungi is due to ancient genes includes which of the following occurrences?

Use the following information to answer the question. Along with bacteria and protozoa, some chytrid fungi live in the digestive tracts of cattle and aid in the digestion of plant matter; thus, all three groups represent potential mutualists with cattle. In an experiment designed to test how much of a contribution to cell wall digestion was made by fungi in one part of the stomach (rumen), Lee et al. fed grain to cattle and then removed samples of the rumen contents. They took these samples to the laboratory and experimentally treated them with various chemicals to produce fractions that contained (A)only fungi, (B)only bacteria, (C)only protozoa, and (D)all of the potential mutualists. They then measured the percent of the cell wall that was degraded (see the figure). Degradation rates of cell walls extracted from Orchard grass by the monoculture system to assess the relative contributions of digestion by bacterial (square), protozoan (triangle), and fungal (diamond)systems, and all components (closed circle)as a control. The lowercase letters above the spots indicate statistical significance; mean values with different letters are significantly different (P < 0.05). Which of the following conclusions can be drawn correctly from the data?

Use the following information to answer the question. For several decades now, amphibian species worldwide have been in decline. A significant proportion of the decline seems to be due to the spread of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytrid sporangia reside within the epidermal cells of infected animals, animals that consequently show areas of sloughed skin. They can also be lethargic, which is expressed through failure to hide and failure to flee. The infection cycle typically takes four to five days, at the end of which zoospores are released from sporangia into the environment. In some amphibian species, mortality rates approach 100%; other species seem able to survive the infection. When adult amphibian skin harbors populations of the bacterium Janthinobacterium lividum (Jl), chytrid infection seems to be inhibited. Which of the following represents the best experimental design to test whether this inhibition is real?

Arrange the following in order from largest to smallest.

Use the following information to answer the question. For several decades now, amphibian species worldwide have been in decline. A significant proportion of the decline seems to be due to the spread of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytrid sporangia reside within the epidermal cells of infected animals, animals that consequently show areas of sloughed skin. They can also be lethargic, which is expressed through failure to hide and failure to flee. The infection cycle typically takes four to five days, at the end of which zoospores are released from sporangia into the environment. In some amphibian species, mortality rates approach 100%; other species seem able to survive the infection. Sexual reproduction has not been observed in Bd. If its morphology and genetics did not identify it as a chytridiomycete, then to which fungal group would Bd be assigned?

Use the following information to answer the question. For several decades now, amphibian species worldwide have been in decline. A significant proportion of the decline seems to be due to the spread of the chytrid fungus, Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). Chytrid sporangia reside within the epidermal cells of infected animals, animals that consequently show areas of sloughed skin. They can also be lethargic, which is expressed through failure to hide and failure to flee. The infection cycle typically takes four to five days, at the end of which zoospores are released from sporangia into the environment. In some amphibian species, mortality rates approach 100%; other species seem able to survive the infection. Apart from direct amphibian-to-amphibian contact, what is the most likely means by which the zoospores spread from one free-living amphibian to another?

A billionaire buys a sterile volcanic island that recently emerged from the sea. To speed the arrival of conditions necessary for plant growth, the billionaire might be advised to aerially sow what over the island?

Diploid nuclei of the ascomycete Neurospora crassa contain 14 chromosomes. A single diploid cell in an ascus will undergo one round of meiosis, followed in each of the daughter cells by one round of mitosis, producing a total of eight ascospores. If a single, diploid G₂ nucleus in an ascus contains 400 nanograms (ng)of DNA, then a single ascospore nucleus of this species should contain how much DNA (ng), carried on how many chromosomes?

Use the following information to answer the question. Canadian and Swiss researchers wanted to know if the diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF)was important to the productivity of grasslands (M.G.A. van der Heijden, J. N. Klironomos, M. Ursic, P. Moutoglis, R. Streitwolf-Engel, T. Boler, A. Wiemken, and I. R. Sanders. 1998. Mycorrhizal fungal diversity determines plant biodiversity, ecosystem variability, and productivity. Nature 396:69-72). Specifically, they wanted to know if it mattered which specific AMF species were present, or just that some type of AMF was present. They grew various plants in combination with one of four AMF species (A, B, C, and D), no AMF species (O), or all four AMF species together (A + B + C + D); and they measured plant growth under each set of conditions. All plant species were grown in each plot, so they always competed with each other with the only difference being which AMF species were present. On the graphs, the x-axis labels indicate the number and identity of AMF species (bar 0 = no fungi; bars A - D = individual AMF species; bar A + B + C + D = all AMF species together). The y-axis indicates the amount (grams)of plant biomass for the species shown in italics above each graph. Graph e is the total biomass (grams)of all 11 plant species combined; graph f is the biomass of Bromus erectus plants only, separated from the total. Based on graphs e and f, which is the most well-supported prediction for the effect on total plant biomass if AMF diversity were increased to eight species?

Some nematode worms suck plant juices from the roots of plants and are economically important agricultural pests. Some fungi are usually decomposers of plant material, but some trap and kill nematodes at times. Arthrobotrys traps and kills nematodes, especially when they lack nitrogen sources. These two facts suggest that farmers could find Arthrobotrys an important tool in combating nematode infestations. Which of the following research questions would make a good starting point for developing such a defense against plant-sucking nematodes?