A latest press release by the IUCN highlighted that the rapid growth of agricultural and urban areas has replaced fungi habitats, putting 279 species at risk of extinction.
Key findings
- Risk: Fungi species on the list have reached 1,300, of which at least 411 are at risk of extinction.
- Climate change: Changing fire patterns in the USA have put 50+ species at risk. E.g., Sierra Nevada forests in the USA are dominated by firs now.
- Pollution: 91 species are at risk due to ammonia runoff from fertilizers.
- Habitat loss: 279 species are endangered due to habitat loss and urban expansion.
About Fungi
- Fungi are eukaryotic organisms i.e., their cells contain membrane-bound organelles and clearly defined nuclei.
- While they were historically classified under the plant kingdom, they differ significantly because:
- Absence of chlorophyll.
- Cell Structure: Fungal cell walls contain chitin, whereas plant cell walls contain cellulose.
- Nutrient Absorption: Fungi digest organic matter externally and then absorb it, while plants make their own food.
- Lichen Mutualism: Composite organisms made of a fungus and either a single-celled alga or cyanobacterium.
- Ecological role of fungi: Fungi decompose organic matter, recycle nutrients, and form symbiotic relationships with plants.
- Scientists in Germany have identified fungi that can degrade synthetic plastics
- Other benefits of Fungi: Food industry (used in fermentation, baking, etc.), Drug production (some species contain chemicals that are extracted and used to produce drugs known as statins, which control cholesterol levels); etc.
