What Kinds of Fungi Live in a Freshwater Biome?

Mold

• Mold is one of the most prolific forms of fungi. It breaks down dead and decaying organic matter. Mold reproduces both sexually and asexually through spores. These spores, similar to seeds, carry the genetic information of the next generation. When spores land in a moist environment, they grow and begin digesting whatever is available. Freshwater biomes give mold ample moisture and food to grow and develop. Mold grows in fresh water, on rocks, on soil that lines the freshwater and on the surrounding plants.

Sac Fungi

• There are several different types of sac fungi, ranging in size from tiny yeast organisms to large morels and truffles. Many forms of sac fungi are parasitic, such as ergot, which grows on grain, and Dutch elm disease. Sac fungi grow in moist soil. Truffles, a gourmet delicacy, grow just below the surface of the ground where they have access to water. Several species of truffles form a symbiotic relationship with specific species of trees. Some of those trees, such as birches, are water-loving and grow well in freshwater biomes. The biome gives all forms of sac fungi the moisture necessary for development.

Club Fungi

• Club fungi include mushrooms, puffballs, shelf fungi and stinkhorns. What many traditionally think of as mushrooms are no more a fungus than an apple is an apple tree. Instead, both mushrooms and apples are the fruiting bodies, the reproductive portion of the organism. The actual mushroom organism lies underground and spreads far from the little button-shaped fruit seen in the grocery store. Mushrooms and puffballs are common on the edge of streams, lakes and marshes. The soil absorbs the moisture from the freshwater source and transmits the fluid to the growing fungus.

Lichen

• Lichen is more than simply a fungus. Lichen forms when fungi and algae form a symbiotic relationship. Green alga, which grows abundantly in freshwater biomes, combines with different species of fungi to create a wide range of lichen. Lichen breaks down organic matter and absorbs the nutrients like fungi, but the green alga also provides the organism with photosynthetic cells. So lichen is able to convert sunlight into nutrients as well. Lichen grows extremely well in freshwater marshes and along slow-moving rivers and lakes. These biomes provide the best environment for both the fungi and green alga.