- STATEMENT:
- Spores ensure that a small portion of the fungus' protoplasm is widely
and efficiently dispersed away from the site currently occupied by the
organism.
- QUESTION:
- Why might this be important?
- ANSWER:
- Since fungi are non-motile organisms (with the exception of zoospores),
if the site or substrate currently occupied by the fungus is becoming unfavourable
for continued growth (e.g. it's becoming exhausted of nutrients) the fungus
needs to produce propagules that can be widely and efficiently dispersed
by air, water or animals to fresh sites or new potential hosts where
there is a plentiful supply of nutrients.
Return to section