Among forest flora quite a lot of mysterious creatures.But one type of plant organisms on the right is at the top position a conditional rating of mystery and byway.We are talking about mushrooms.Scientists still do not know exactly what species of organisms they include flora and fauna.Until recently, the mushrooms were considered representatives of the plant world.But now all of Botany more inclined to refute this assumption.If so, then they refer to the animal world.In this case, there is a very interesting question: "How to feed on mushrooms?"
kingdom fungi
study these amazing creations of nature is engaged in the whole direction of botany.It is called mycology (and even how to eat mushrooms, Grade 7 learn schoolwork).Even if we start from the Latin designation of mushrooms - Fungi, or Mycota, it becomes clear that the whole world.Or, as some scientists - unexplored realm of organisms.
main feature of fungi is that they combine the features of both animal and plant life.This integration of botany called eukaryotic organisms.At the beginning of the XIX century, some scientists suggested in his works highlight the mushrooms in a separate kingdom.However, a final opinion on the matter was formed only in the 70s of XX century.It was then that scientists have substantiated the need for mushrooms in a separate world.In the second half of the XX century, the knowledge gained in the study of wondrous kingdom allowed scientists to share these organisms to several completely unrelated to each other lines and distribute them to different realms.
The results of the study "real" mushroom is considered to be only one kind.We've learned that it is "a plant" with a cap and stem, lives mainly in forests.In fact, all kinds of molds and bacteria are also called fungi.And compare them with those that live in a clearing in the moss, is almost impossible.In fact - and that at least - the bacteria and fungi are fed differently.
At the beginning of the XXI century, even the very definition of "mushrooms" is perceived ambiguously.If we talk about a very narrow interpretation, which relates to a biological taxonomy, it is appropriate to use the term "taxon" (a type of the kingdoms of nature).In the old, more broad sense, this designation has lost the original meaning.Today, it defines the ecological and trophic groups that integrates heterotrophic eukaryotes with osmotrofnym type of self (that is what we are interested in: how to eat mushrooms).Biology is still studying the issue.But what concerns the usual members of this genus with foot and hat, traditionally defined mycology.And we will try to deal with the "ordinary" and "habitual" fungi that inhabit our forests and meadows.
Variety
biological and ecological diversity of the kingdom is enormous.This is one of the largest forms of living organisms, which are an integral part of all terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.According to modern research, today it is known from 100 to 250 thousands of different species of fungi.
In 2008, the kingdom Fungi, scientists counted 36 classes, 140 orders, 560 families and 8283 consumed the generic name of this species.Impressive numbers!Certainly, mushrooms occupy an important niche in the environmental interaction with the person.They are present in almost any environment: in water, on land, at various substrates.
eating mushrooms?The short answer is quite simple: they are decomposers, t. E. Decompose all kinds of organic materials, while promoting the formation of new layer of fertile soil.This can be regarded as a primitive power.But do not forget that such processes play a rather important role in the ecology of the entire biosphere.
Comprehensive application
Another very important vital functions of fungi found in all kinds of symbiotic communities.For example, the mycorrhiza - the association of the mycelium with the roots of higher plants, lichens - a symbiosis of the fungus with blue-green algae, and so on. N. And representatives of the order neokalimastigovyh are a mandatory component of the digestive process in ruminants.And what animals feed on fungi, and can not speak.Just start listing!
If we talk about a person, then, as we know, many species of fungi used in food, medical and commercial purposes.Culinary specialties of many cuisines of the world are made up of this nutritious, tasty and healthy product.Their industrial farming is very popular.There is a whole industry production of special materials for the cultivation of mushrooms.These products are designed for lovers who are engaged in their cultivation in the home.So farmers need to know how to eat mushrooms.Answers significant impact on productivity and labor costs.
And the smallest microscopic fungi commonly used in the food industry for the preparation of beverages, which are important in the production process of fermentation.Not ignored and medicine.In modern biotechnology production of antibiotics are also used by some types of microorganisms.
Fungal danger
However, fungi and can cause harm.We must not forget that the harmful fungi that grow in undisturbed ecological systems, can become a very serious problem in terms of security.Usually do not pose a threat to the artificial conditions or in areas of human life, they can cause skin diseases - ringworm, and sometimes serious damage to internal organs - the deep fungal infections.And it concerns not only people but also animals.
very great danger to humans may be poisoning "traditional" poisonous mushrooms.In some cases, it can even be fatal.Such poisoning is usually caused by eating highly toxic or hallucinogenic mushrooms.
simple classification
Talking about these amazing organisms, want to respond to such an important and interesting question: "How to feed on mushrooms?"The answers are very diverse, and this despite the fact that most of them belong to the same group - the class Basidiomycetes.His representatives are quite serious differences in terms of the natural food intake.
If classify edible forest products on how to grow and how to eat mushrooms, they can be divided into three main groups:
- saprotrophs humus;
- wood-destroying fungi;
- mycorrhiza.
By humus saprotrophs are those mushroom mycelium which spreads in the humus layer of the soil.Fungi feed on organic matter accumulated in an extinct wood, grass, and so on. N. Interestingly, many of them grow in open fields - fields, meadows, steppe zones.This group primarily include such well-known all fungi like mushrooms, raincoats and dung.How fungi feed on predators?When there is nothing to profit, they become saprotroph.But they prefer to catch all kinds of live microorganisms.To do so, the predators have special devices that allow you to catch prey.Most often, this part of the body adhesive mushroom hyphae, the network branches of mycelium.But there are some who are literally being strangled victim is rapidly increasing in size.
second group name speaks for itself.Wood-destroying fungi, or ksilotrofy, normally live on the wood.Nutrients such processes are carried out by fungi useful properties that are found in the bark of trees.Typically, these fungi live in forests and, in turn, are divided into two groups conditional: fungi, parasites and fungi saprotrophs.When considering how to eat mushrooms, parasites, it becomes clear that they seriously destroy trees selyas their bark.While some of them prefer to grow on dead wood is already changing the way power to saprotrophic.
Most artificially cultivated mushrooms - ksilotrofov - belong to the subgroup saprotroph.They usually develop on the stumps and dead wood.Among this species it is worth noting the well-known oyster, shiitake and Armillaria year.These mushrooms are valuable because they can be grown year-round in vitro.In special areas, based on, for example, waste wood industry, it is possible to organize a kind of farm.
plant symbiosis of mycorrhizal fungi, which are conditional third group, much worse amenable to artificial cultivation.During development, they are closely connected with the roots of large trees, they form mycorrhiza - a kind of root system.In this case the complete symbiosis, as the tree and the fungus are equally useful to each other.Timbers fungus provides the necessary energy to him, well, he, in turn, provides the wood necessary mineral nutrients.Mainly phosphorus and nitrogen.
eating mushrooms?The underground part of the densely distributed in the soil, criss-crossing the main root of the plant and performing the function of root hairs.Some hyphae penetrate into the root system of the main tree, extract the nutrients.The other extracts from soil water, mineral salts and other solutes, primarily nitrogen content.The thus obtained substance is partially received in the main root system of the plants, and also serve as a nutrient composition to the fungus itself.
interesting fact that mycorrhizal may develop without the root system of higher plants.But in this case do not form fruiting bodies of this fungus.This is what happens in the home cultivation of white fungus and its related sub-species (brown cap boletus, aspen).That is why this group of fungi is not artificially cultivated.Although there are no rules without exceptions.For example, in France and Germany it is very widespread cultivation of black truffle, which grows on the roots of seedlings of beech and oak.
What eat mushrooms
should be noted that mushrooms are fed ready-made organic compounds.But still, the main role is played by compounds having a carbon basis.Carbon - the main energy source for fungi.The food edible fungus important is the presence of nitrogenous substances - they stimulate growth.Because of this, consumption of inorganic matter is very often said that eating mushrooms autotrophically.Typically, this ammonium nitrate and ammonium salts of the derivatives.In addition to carbon and nitrogen compositions, mushrooms and many used minerals - calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.And as a micronutrient fungi require materials such as copper, zinc and manganese.
Yet, if you ask how to eat mushrooms, the short answer should be as follows: heterotrophically.This means that they can not be independently processed inorganic mineral matter in the organic material.Therefore, all necessary absorbed in the form of "aqueous solutions".
knowledge about how to eat mushrooms, are very important in the artificial cultivation of edible members of this kingdom.After all, creating a favorable environment for their growth - the key to successful industrial production.
animals and fungi
Based on the above facts, it becomes clear that the mushrooms have quite serious implications for a person in terms of food raw materials.But what is the situation with the fauna?What is the value of the world of fungi for them?What animals eat mushrooms?These questions can be answered by examining in detail the habits of the most common inhabitants of the forest.It should be noted immediately that they willingly eat many wild animals such as elk, squirrels, bears, deer.
more hunters eat mushrooms recognized forest mouse.They, however, stocks rarely do, preferring to eat away all the tastiest directly on the ground.Curious fact that forest mouse-vole somehow eat Stipe, leaving untouched hat.And if we see a large amount lying on the ground hats aspen mushrooms and brown cap boletus, it is a sure sign that this place was recently mouse feast.
Some representatives birds also love mushrooms.They eat them only in summer and autumn, sklevyvaya treat on the ground.The passion for mushrooms scientists were seen jays, grouse, and some species of grouse.And that birds contribute to the rapid spread of forest gifts, transferring fungal spores (separate them with feces) in a rather distant from current habitat areas.This is possible because the spores, after passing through the digestive system of birds are stimulated germination.
Squirrel stocks
Speaking of the proteins, in the summer they find and eat the mushrooms on the ground.In winter, supplies of protein feeds, harvested earlier.Pantry stuffed mushrooms for winter animal begins in late summer.And interesting detail is the fact that before storage fungi are dried in the sun to avoid further decay.Typically, the protein is hanging them on the trees so that they do not become easy prey to other hunters eat the product.Most often she uses knots of conifers.Much less protein simply lays its prey on stumps comfortable and just flat surfaces.
If in September, walking in the forest, take a closer look to some firs and pines, you can often notice signs of harvesting these furry animals.Well, on the volume of blanks for the winter can be judged from the statistics provided by scientists.The average protein locates in one slot to 200 units of various fungi.Quite an impressive figure, especially when you consider that a large segment of these Stores took porcini mushrooms.The total weight of the dried product can be up to 600 grams.This is equivalent to nearly 6 kg of the same mushrooms raw.
Amanita - poison or benefit?
And who eats mushrooms in the forest?If we talk about large forest dwellers, the first thing worth mentioning is the moose.These animals are really very fond of mushrooms, and various kinds.With respect to the elk is very interesting is the fact that they are willing to eat the fly agaric, which for many fauna species are poisonous.Scientists are very interested in the study of this question, but so far can not explain the exact nature of the phenomenon.Many of them are inclined to think that in this way the moose somehow "disinfect" your body.There is also a feeling that some of the trace elements to promote digestion elk mushroom.
In this regard, we note that not only animals, but also people sometimes use fly agaric.But, unlike animals, people eat fly agaric for medical purposes.In rural areas, still make a variety of alcoholic tincture on the basis of this fungus.It is argued that their use contributes to the treatment of rheumatism.
In fact, mushrooms contain a lot of useful, both for human and animal trace.And that is the purpose of medical prevention, and not just from starvation, many animals eat it.
