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CLASS 7 · LEARNING KNOWLEDGE

Mushrooms and decomposition – basic principles

How it works

Mushrooms are living organisms that belong neither to plants nor to animals. They feed heterotrophically. Many mushrooms decompose organic material and play an important role as decomposers in the nutrient cycle by breaking down dead plants and animals and making nutrients available again for other organisms. Mushrooms usually consist of fine cell threads (hyphae) that form a network (mycelium). There are different kinds of mushrooms, including moulds, yeasts, and larger mushrooms such as champignons. Some mushrooms can cause diseases or live in symbiosis with plants (mycorrhiza).

Note
Many mushrooms break down organic material and act as decomposers in the nutrient cycle. In the process, nutrients from dead material are made available again.

An example

What role do mushrooms play in the nutrient cycle?

Many mushrooms break down dead organic material and release nutrients that can be taken up again by plants. In this way, they contribute to the nutrient cycle.

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