Question 1

Basidiomycetes are the only fungal group capable of synthesizing lignin peroxidase.What advantage does this group of fungi have over other fungi because of this capability?

Accepted Answer

A) This is always the first group of fungi to begin any kind of plant decomposition. 
B) This fungal group can break down the tough lignin,which cannot be harnessed for energy,to get to the more useful cellulose. 
C) This is the only group of fungi that can use lignin for ATP production. 
D) This enzyme releases heat energy from the breakdown of lignin that is used to kill off competing fungi. 
A) This is always the first group of fungi to begin any kind of plant decomposition. 
B) This fungal group can break down the tough lignin,which cannot be harnessed for energy,to get to the more useful cellulose. 
C) This is the only group of fungi that can use lignin for ATP production. 
D) This enzyme releases heat energy from the breakdown of lignin that is used to kill off competing fungi.

Question 2

Which fungal class is not matched with its most common habitat?

Accepted Answer

A) EMF → northern coniferous forests 
B) EMF → warm climate forests 
C) AMF → tropics 
D) AMF → grasslands 
A) EMF → northern coniferous forests 
B) EMF → warm climate forests 
C) AMF → tropics 
D) AMF → grasslands

Question 3

Figure 31.5
Use the graphs in Figures 31.4 and 31.5 and the following information when answering the corresponding questions.
Canadian and Swiss researchers (van der Heijden et al. ,1998),interested in factors affecting biodiversity,grew a variety of grassland plants in combination with one of four arbuscular mycorrhizal (AMF)species,no AMF,or all four AMF species together;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 were present.Use the graphs in Figure 31.5 to answer the questions that follow.Note that 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.

Figure 31.4 Figure 31.5
-Based on graphs (e)and (f)in Figure 31.5,which is the most well-supported prediction for the effect on total plant biomass if AMF diversity were increased to eight species?

Accepted Answer

A) No effect is predicted,because the dominant species is unaffected by AMF diversity. 
B) Total biomass for eight species would double in comparison to that for four species. 
C) Rare species would produce more biomass compared to the case when fewer AMF are present. 
D) No effect is predicted,because the dominant species is non-mycorrhizal. 
A) No effect is predicted,because the dominant species is unaffected by AMF diversity. 
B) Total biomass for eight species would double in comparison to that for four species. 
C) Rare species would produce more biomass compared to the case when fewer AMF are present. 
D) No effect is predicted,because the dominant species is non-mycorrhizal.

Question 4

It has been hypothesized that fungi and plants have a mutualistic relationship because plants make sugars available for the fungi's use.What is the best evidence in support of this hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A) Fungi survive better when they are associated with plants. 
B) Radioactively labeled sugars produced by plants eventually show up in the fungi they are associated with. 
C) Fungi associated with plants have the ability to undergo photosynthesis and produce their own sugars,while those not associated with plants do not produce their own sugars. 
D) Radioactive label experiments show that plants pass crucial raw materials to the fungus for manufacturing sugars. 
A) Fungi survive better when they are associated with plants. 
B) Radioactively labeled sugars produced by plants eventually show up in the fungi they are associated with. 
C) Fungi associated with plants have the ability to undergo photosynthesis and produce their own sugars,while those not associated with plants do not produce their own sugars. 
D) Radioactive label experiments show that plants pass crucial raw materials to the fungus for manufacturing sugars.

Question 5

Long,branching fungal filaments are called _____.

Accepted Answer

A) roots 
B) ascus 
C) septa 
D) mycelia 
E) hyphae 
A) roots 
B) ascus 
C) septa 
D) mycelia 
E) hyphae

Question 6

Use the following information when answering the corresponding question(s).
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).Figure 31.2 illustrates the team's experimental setup.Pots containing seedlings of three different tree species were set up and grown under natural conditions for three years;two of the three species formed ectomycorrhizae (Douglas fir,birch)and the other (cedar)formed arbuscular mycorrhizae.For the experiment,the researchers placed airtight bags over the Douglas fir and birch seedlings;into each bag,they injected either carbon dioxide made from carbon-13 or carbon-14 (¹³CO₂ and ¹⁴CO₂,isotopes of carbon).As the seedlings photosynthesized,the radioactive carbon dioxide was converted into radioactively labeled sugars that could be tracked and measured by the researchers.
Figure 31.2
   
Figure 31.3
  
-Referring to Simard et al.(1997),which design element is the control in this experiment and why?

Accepted Answer

A) the bags over the seedlings to contain the different types of carbon dioxide 
B) the fact that all the seedlings are different species 
C) the cedar seedling,because it is not bagged 
D) the cedar seedling,because it forms arbuscular mycorrhizae 
A) the bags over the seedlings to contain the different types of carbon dioxide 
B) the fact that all the seedlings are different species 
C) the cedar seedling,because it is not bagged 
D) the cedar seedling,because it forms arbuscular mycorrhizae

Question 7

A cell has two haploid nuclei.This means it is _____.

Accepted Answer

A) yeast 
B) a zygote 
C) haploid 
D) diploid 
E) dikaryotic 
A) yeast 
B) a zygote 
C) haploid 
D) diploid 
E) dikaryotic

Question 8

Many amphibian populations have been decimated by a parasitic fungi belonging to which lineage?

Accepted Answer

A) Chytridiomycota 
B) Ascomycota 
C) Basidiomycota 
D) Zygomycota 
E) Glomeromycota 
A) Chytridiomycota 
B) Ascomycota 
C) Basidiomycota 
D) Zygomycota 
E) Glomeromycota

Question 9

Use the following information when answering the corresponding question(s).
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).Figure 31.2 illustrates the team's experimental setup.Pots containing seedlings of three different tree species were set up and grown under natural conditions for three years;two of the three species formed ectomycorrhizae (Douglas fir,birch)and the other (cedar)formed arbuscular mycorrhizae.For the experiment,the researchers placed airtight bags over the Douglas fir and birch seedlings;into each bag,they injected either carbon dioxide made from carbon-13 or carbon-14 (¹³CO₂ and ¹⁴CO₂,isotopes of carbon).As the seedlings photosynthesized,the radioactive carbon dioxide was converted into radioactively labeled sugars that could be tracked and measured by the researchers.
Figure 31.2
   
Figure 31.3
  
-Referring to Simard et al.(1997),what is the result that would most strongly refute their hypothesis?

Accepted Answer

A) No movement: Carbon-14 is found in the birch seedling's tissues and carbon-13 in the Douglas fir. 
B) Reciprocal exchange: Carbon-14 is found in the Douglas fir seedling's tissues and carbon-13 in the birch. 
C) Either carbon-13 or carbon-14 is found in the fungal tissues. 
D) Either carbon-13 or carbon-14 is found in the cedar seedling's tissues. 
A) No movement: Carbon-14 is found in the birch seedling's tissues and carbon-13 in the Douglas fir. 
B) Reciprocal exchange: Carbon-14 is found in the Douglas fir seedling's tissues and carbon-13 in the birch. 
C) Either carbon-13 or carbon-14 is found in the fungal tissues. 
D) Either carbon-13 or carbon-14 is found in the cedar seedling's tissues.

Question 10

Fungi that absorb nutrients from decaying plant matter are called _____.

Accepted Answer

A) saprobes 
B) mycorrhizae 
C) mushrooms 
D) yeasts 
E) molds 
A) saprobes 
B) mycorrhizae 
C) mushrooms 
D) yeasts 
E) molds

Question 11

Predict what you would see if you were looking at a new species of Zygomycetes.

Accepted Answer

A) a zygote enclosed in a tough outer coat 
B) flagellated spores 
C) susceptibility to fungicide 
D) multicellularity 
E) its ability to form an association with plant roots 
A) a zygote enclosed in a tough outer coat 
B) flagellated spores 
C) susceptibility to fungicide 
D) multicellularity 
E) its ability to form an association with plant roots

Question 12

There was a mass extinction of plants and animals at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago.Which of the following would be a reasonable prediction for the fungal fossil record?

Accepted Answer

A) There should be a massive increase in mycorrhizal fossils during the extinction and few afterward. 
B) There should be a massive increase in saprophytic fossils during the extinction,and then a massive decline shortly after the extinction was complete. 
C) There should be a massive decrease in all fungal fossils just prior to the time that plant and animal species started to decline,and the number of these fossils should remain low throughout the extinction period. 
D) There should be a slow increase in all fungal fossils during the time that plant and animal species declined,with their numbers staying relatively high afterward since there was little competition from other species. 
A) There should be a massive increase in mycorrhizal fossils during the extinction and few afterward. 
B) There should be a massive increase in saprophytic fossils during the extinction,and then a massive decline shortly after the extinction was complete. 
C) There should be a massive decrease in all fungal fossils just prior to the time that plant and animal species started to decline,and the number of these fossils should remain low throughout the extinction period. 
D) There should be a slow increase in all fungal fossils during the time that plant and animal species declined,with their numbers staying relatively high afterward since there was little competition from other species.

Question 13

Which of these fungal features supports the phylogenetic conclusion that fungi are more closely related to animals than plants?

Accepted Answer

A) Fungi are able to change their body shape continuously throughout their life. 
B) Zygomycetes have flagellated gametes. 
C) Fungi store polysaccharides as starch. 
D) The cell walls of fungi are made of chitin. 
A) Fungi are able to change their body shape continuously throughout their life. 
B) Zygomycetes have flagellated gametes. 
C) Fungi store polysaccharides as starch. 
D) The cell walls of fungi are made of chitin.

Question 14

Figure 31.4
Use the following information when answering the corresponding question(s).
There is much discussion in the media about protecting biodiversity,but does it really matter? 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,no AMF,or all four AMF species together;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.Use the graphs in Figure 31.4 to answer the questions that follow.Note that 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.
  
-Which of the following best explains the data given in graph (b)of Figure 31.4 about Lotus corniculatus?

Accepted Answer

A) This plant grows best when AMF taxa A or C are present. 
B) Lotus corniculatus does not form mycorrhizal associations. 
C) Mycorrhizal fungi parasitize the plant's roots when they are present,reducing its growth. 
D) This plant forms multiple AMF associations,growing best with increased fungal diversity. 
A) This plant grows best when AMF taxa A or C are present. 
B) Lotus corniculatus does not form mycorrhizal associations. 
C) Mycorrhizal fungi parasitize the plant's roots when they are present,reducing its growth. 
D) This plant forms multiple AMF associations,growing best with increased fungal diversity.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

A) Hyphae are 100 to 1000 times larger than plant roots. 
B) Hyphae have a smaller surface-area-to-volume ratio than do the hairs on a plant root. 
C) Mycelia are able to grow in the direction of food. 
D) Fungi secrete extracellular enzymes that can break down large molecules. 
A) Hyphae are 100 to 1000 times larger than plant roots. 
B) Hyphae have a smaller surface-area-to-volume ratio than do the hairs on a plant root. 
C) Mycelia are able to grow in the direction of food. 
D) Fungi secrete extracellular enzymes that can break down large molecules.

Question 16

It has been hypothesized that fungi and plants have a mutualistic relationship because fungi provide critical nitrogen for the plants' use.How do we know this happens?

Accepted Answer

A) Plants acquire more radioactive nitrogen when they are associated with fungi. 
B) Radioactively labeled nitrogen shows up in fungi when they are symbiotic with plants. 
C) When plants are associated with fungi,they can fix atmospheric nitrogen that has been tagged with a radioactive label. 
D) Radioactively labeled sugars in plants eventually find their way to their symbiotic fungi. 
A) Plants acquire more radioactive nitrogen when they are associated with fungi. 
B) Radioactively labeled nitrogen shows up in fungi when they are symbiotic with plants. 
C) When plants are associated with fungi,they can fix atmospheric nitrogen that has been tagged with a radioactive label. 
D) Radioactively labeled sugars in plants eventually find their way to their symbiotic fungi.

Question 17

The fungus used to produce penicillin and other antibiotics belongs to which fungal lineage?

Accepted Answer

A) Chytridiomycota 
B) Ascomycota 
C) Basidiomycota 
D) Zygomycota 
E) Glomeromycota 
A) Chytridiomycota 
B) Ascomycota 
C) Basidiomycota 
D) Zygomycota 
E) Glomeromycota

Exam 31: Fungi

Basidiomycetes are the only fungal group capable of synthesizing lignin peroxidase.What advantage does this group of fungi have over other fungi because of this capability?

Which fungal class is not matched with its most common habitat?

It has been hypothesized that fungi and plants have a mutualistic relationship because plants make sugars available for the fungi's use.What is the best evidence in support of this hypothesis?

Long,branching fungal filaments are called _____.

A cell has two haploid nuclei.This means it is _____.

Many amphibian populations have been decimated by a parasitic fungi belonging to which lineage?

Fungi that absorb nutrients from decaying plant matter are called _____.

Predict what you would see if you were looking at a new species of Zygomycetes.

There was a mass extinction of plants and animals at the end of the Permian period 250 million years ago.Which of the following would be a reasonable prediction for the fungal fossil record?

Which of these fungal features supports the phylogenetic conclusion that fungi are more closely related to animals than plants?

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

It has been hypothesized that fungi and plants have a mutualistic relationship because fungi provide critical nitrogen for the plants' use.How do we know this happens?

The fungus used to produce penicillin and other antibiotics belongs to which fungal lineage?

Biology and the Tree of Life

Water and Carbon: the Chemical Basis of Life

Protein Structure and Function

Nucleic Acids and the Rna World

An Introduction to Carbohydrates

Lipids, membranes, and the First Cells

Inside the Cell

Cell-Cell Interactions

Cellular Respiration and Fermentation

Photosynthesis

The Cell Cycle

Meiosis

Mendel and the Gene

Dna and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair

How Genes Work

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Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria

Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes

Analyzing and Engineering Genes

Genomics

Principles of Development

An Introduction to Animal Development

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Evolution by Natural Selection

Evolutionary Processes

Speciation

Phylogenies and the History of Life

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An Introduction to Animals

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Plant Form and Function

Water and Sugar Transport in Plants

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Plant Reproduction

Animal Form and Function

Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals

Animal Nutrition

Gas Exchange and Circulation

Electrical Signals in Animals

Animal Sensory Systems and Movement

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The Immune System in Animals

An Introduction to Ecology

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