Textbook Question
Explain the process of extracellular digestion that occurs during the growth of Pilobolus mycelia through dung.
Ch. 29 - Fungi
Freeman8th EditionBiological ScienceISBN: 9780138276263
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Table of contents
- Ch. 1 - Biology: The Study of Life13
- Ch. 2 - Water and Carbon: The Chemical Basis of Life14
- Ch.3 - Protein Structure and Function10
- Ch.4 - Nucleic Acids and the RNA World10
- Ch. 5 - An Introduction to Carbohydrates10
- Ch. 6 - Lipids, Membranes, and the First Cells11
- Ch. 7 - Inside the Cell10
- Ch. 8 - Energy and Enzymes: An Introduction to Metabolism10
- Ch. 9 - Cellular Respiration and Fermentation11
- Ch. 10 - Photosynthesis12
- Ch. 11 - Cell-Cell Interactions12
- Ch. 12 - The Cell Cycle8
- Ch. 13 - Meiosis12
- Ch. 14 - Mendel and the Gene23
- Ch. 15 - DNA and the Gene: Synthesis and Repair15
- Ch. 16 - How Genes Work16
- Ch. 17 - Transcription, RNA Processing, and Translation16
- Ch. 18 - Control of Gene Expression in Bacteria16
- Ch. 19 - Control of Gene Expression in Eukaryotes12
- Ch. 20 - The Molecular Revolution: Biotechnology, Genomics, and New Frontiers15
- Ch. 21 - Genes, Development, and Evolution12
- Ch. 22 - Evolution by Natural Selection16
- Ch. 23 - Evolutionary Processes13
- Ch. 24 - Speciation15
- Ch. 25 - Phylogenies and the History of Life13
- Ch. 26 - Bacteria and Archaea15
- Ch. 27 - Diversification of Eukaryotes16
- Ch. 28 - Green Algae and Land Plants16
- Ch. 29 - Fungi18
- Ch. 30 - An Introduction to Animals9
- Ch. 31 - Protostome Animals15
- Ch. 32 - Deuterostome Animals17
- Ch. 33 - Viruses16
- Ch. 34 - Plant Form and Function16
- Ch. 35 - Water and Sugar Transport in Plants16
- Ch. 36 - Plant Nutrition13
- Ch. 37 - Plant Sensory Systems, Signals, and Responses16
- Ch. 38 - Flowering Plant Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 39 - Animal Form and Function17
- Ch. 40 - Water and Electrolyte Balance in Animals16
- Ch. 41 - Animal Nutrition16
- Ch. 42 - Gas Exchange and Circulation16
- Ch. 43 - Animal Nervous Systems16
- Ch. 44 - Animal Sensory Systems16
- Ch. 45 - Animal Movement11
- Ch. 46 - Chemical Signals in Animals16
- Ch. 47 - Animal Reproduction and Development16
- Ch. 48 - The Immune System in Animals16
- Ch. 49 - An Introduction to Ecology15
- Ch. 50 - Behavioral Ecology16
- Ch. 51 - Population Ecology16
- Ch. 52 - Community Ecology20
- Ch. 53 - Ecosystems and Global Ecology17
- Ch. 54 - Biodiversity and Conservation Ecology18
Chapter 29, Problem 15
Using high-speed video, researchers have measured several variables associated with sporangium discharge in various spore-shooting fungi. Based on the data in the table shown here, how do the launch speed and acceleration of Pilobolus compare with those of the other fungi?
How does launch speed for each species compare with the top speed of 44 km/h reached by Jamaican athlete Usain Bolt during his 2009 world-record-setting 100-m race?
Verified step by step guidance1
Examine the table to identify the launch speed and acceleration values for each fungus species: Ascobolus immersus, Podospora anserina, and Pilobolus kleinii.
Compare the launch speed of Pilobolus kleinii (9 m/s) with Ascobolus immersus (14 m/s) and Podospora anserina (21 m/s) to determine how Pilobolus kleinii's launch speed ranks among the three species.
Compare the acceleration of Pilobolus kleinii (210,000 m/s²) with Ascobolus immersus (1,800,000 m/s²) and Podospora anserina (1,500,000 m/s²) to assess how Pilobolus kleinii's acceleration compares to the other fungi.
Convert Usain Bolt's top speed from km/h to m/s for comparison: 44 km/h is equivalent to approximately 12.22 m/s. Compare this speed with the launch speeds of each fungus species.
Summarize the comparisons: Pilobolus kleinii has the lowest launch speed and acceleration among the fungi, and none of the fungi reach the top speed of Usain Bolt, with Podospora anserina having the closest launch speed to Bolt's top speed.
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Key Concepts
Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.
Launch Speed
Launch speed refers to the initial velocity at which an object is propelled into the air. In the context of spore-shooting fungi, it indicates how quickly the spores are ejected from the sporangium. This speed is crucial for understanding the dispersal efficiency of the spores, as higher speeds can lead to greater distances traveled.
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Acceleration
Acceleration is the rate of change of velocity of an object over time. In the case of fungi, it measures how quickly the sporangium can increase its launch speed during spore discharge. High acceleration values suggest that the fungi can rapidly achieve their launch speeds, which may enhance their ability to disperse spores effectively.
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Comparison to Human Speed
Comparing the launch speeds of fungi to the top speed of Usain Bolt provides a context for understanding the relative performance of these organisms. Bolt's record speed of 44 km/h (approximately 12.2 m/s) serves as a benchmark, allowing for an evaluation of how the fungi's launch speeds measure up against a world-class human athlete, highlighting the remarkable adaptations of these fungi.
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Related Practice
Textbook Question
Some fungi have elaborate mechanisms for dispersing spores. For example, the “squirt gun” fungus Pilobolus, which grows in cow dung, forcibly shoots off tiny black sporangia filled with spores. Any sporangia that are flung onto fresh grass are likely to be eaten by a grazing cow, passed through its digestive system unharmed, and deposited in a new batch of dung. The spores carried within the sporangia are perfectly positioned to grow into a new mycelium.
Both asexual sporangia (shown in the photo) and zygosporangia can be found in cow dung. Make a simplified drawing that illustrates the events of plasmogamy, karyogamy, and meiosis that occur during sexual reproduction in Pilobolus. Be sure to indicate and label the zygosporangium.
Textbook Question
Some fungi have elaborate mechanisms for dispersing spores. For example, the “squirt gun” fungus Pilobolus, which grows in cow dung, forcibly shoots off tiny black sporangia filled with spores. Any sporangia that are flung onto fresh grass are likely to be eaten by a grazing cow, passed through its digestive system unharmed, and deposited in a new batch of dung. The spores carried within the sporangia are perfectly positioned to grow into a new mycelium.
Would you describe the association between Pilobolus and cows as a symbiotic relationship? Explain your answer.
Textbook Question
Propose an experiment to test whether Pilobolus shoots its sporangia preferentially toward light. Hypothesize why such a preference might be advantageous.