COPROPHILOUS FUNGI
Coprophilous fungi (dung-loving fungi) are
a type of saprophytic fungi that grow on animal dung, mostly of
herbivorous animals. The hardy spores of coprophilous species are unwittingly
consumed by herbivores from vegetation, and are excreted along with the plant
matter. The fungi then flourish in the feces, before releasing their spores to
the surrounding area.
LIFE CYCLE:
Coprophilous fungi release
their spores to the surrounding vegetation, which is then eaten
by herbivores. The spores then remain in the animal as the plants
are digested, pass through the animal's intestines and are
finally defecated. The fruiting bodies of the fungi then grow from the animal
feces. It is essential that the spores of the species then reach new plant
material; spores remaining in the feces will produce nothing. As such, some
species have developed means of discharging spores a large distance. An
example of this is the genus Pilobolus.
Fruiting bodies of Pilobolus will suddenly rupture, sending
the contents over 2 metres away.
Animal feces
provide an environment rich in nitrogenous materials as well as
various enzymes from the animal's digestive system. The spores
themselves survive digestion by being particularly thick-walled, allowing them
to germinate in the dung with minimum competition from other organisms. This
thick wall is often broken down during digestion, readying the spore for
germination. The spores are so hard that samples of dried dung can later be
rehydrated, allowing the fungus to fruit weeks later.
DISTRIBUTION:
The
distribution of coprophilous fungi is closely linked to the distribution of the
herbivores on which they rely, such as rabbits, deer, cattle, horses and
sheep. Some species rely on a specific species for dung; for instance, Coprinus radiatus, and Panaeolus campanulatus grow almost
exclusively on horse feces, while others, such as Panaeolus sphinctrinus, can grow on any feces or even just
particularly fertile soil. Further, some species (such as Conocybe rickenii) can be found in large
numbers in areas where manure has been used as a soil fertilizer,
such as in gardens. Some coprophilous fungi are also known to grow from the
dung of omnivores (such as Chaetomium
globisporum from rat droppings) or even carnivores (such
as Chaetomium rajasthanense,
from tiger feces).
Prema Iswary,
Assistant Professor,
Department of Botany.
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