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| ===Introduction=== | ===Introduction=== | ||
| - | Chytrids play an important role in the food web, especially in fresh water ecosystems. The five main roles of chytrids as described by Gleason et al. (2008) are as follows: chytrid zoospores are a good food source for zooplankton, chytrids decompose particulate organic matter, chytrids are parasites of aquatic plants, chytrids are parasites of aquatic animals, and chytrids convert inorganic compounds into organic compounds. These are important factors as each of these specific situations affect the ecosystem greatly. Chytrid zoospores are a great source of nutrition and are a good size (2-3 μm in diameter) for feeding zooplankton (Gleason et al. 2008). They also contain some organic compounds such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulphur, important for supplying vitamins to the zooplankton. As the chytrid zoospores are ingested, their nutrients are transferred up the food chain to higher trophic levels. Chytrids are able to decompose particulate organic matter such as chitin, cellulose, and protein found in snake and hair (Gleason et al. 2008). This is important because these molecules are hard to digest or virtually indigestible by other organisms. With the help of chytrids, these molecules can become dissolved organic matter and thus be taken up by organisms higher up the trophic levels. Chytrids can be parasites of both phytoplankton and vascular plants. They help control seasonal successions of phytoplankton species (Gleason et al. 2008). Chytrids are also parasites of aquatic invertebrates such as rotifers, nematodes, and mites. They help with the regulation of populations in these environments. The fact that chytrids can convert inorganic compounds into organic compounds is essential in the food chain because some of these inorganic compounds are not usable in their inorganic state. For example, there are insoluble states of phosphorous that need to be broken down by chytrids before they can be absorbed. Organic compounds made by chytrids are then able to be used by other organisms in the ecosystem. After introducing the five main roles of chytrids and their importance in the food web, | + | Chytrids play an important role in the food web, especially in fresh water ecosystems. The five main roles of chytrids as described by Gleason et al. (2008) are as follows: chytrid zoospores are a good food source for zooplankton, chytrids decompose particulate organic matter, chytrids are parasites of aquatic plants, chytrids are parasites of aquatic animals, and chytrids convert inorganic compounds into organic compounds. These are important factors as each of these specific situations affect the ecosystem greatly. Chytrid zoospores are a great source of nutrition and are a good size (2-3 μm in diameter) for feeding zooplankton (Gleason et al. 2008). They also contain some organic compounds such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulphur, important for supplying vitamins to the zooplankton. As the chytrid zoospores are ingested, their nutrients are transferred up the food chain to higher trophic levels. Chytrids are able to decompose particulate organic matter such as chitin, cellulose, and protein found in snake and hair (Gleason et al. 2008). This is important because these molecules are hard to digest or virtually indigestible by other organisms. With the help of chytrids, these molecules can become dissolved organic matter and thus be taken up by organisms higher up the trophic levels. Chytrids can be parasites of both phytoplankton and vascular plants. They help control seasonal successions of phytoplankton species (Gleason et al. 2008). Chytrids are also parasites of aquatic invertebrates such as rotifers, nematodes, and mites. They help with the regulation of populations in these environments. The fact that chytrids can convert inorganic compounds into organic compounds is essential in the food chain because some of these inorganic compounds are not usable in their inorganic state. For example, there are insoluble states of phosphorous that need to be broken down by chytrids before they can be absorbed. Organic compounds made by chytrids are then able to be used by other organisms in the ecosystem. After introducing the five main roles of chytrids and their importance in the food web, the processes they are involved in, their variety of species, and their evolutionary history will be further discussed in more detail. |
Revision as of 18:18, 14 March 2013
Contents |
Chytrids and their role in the food web
Introduction
Chytrids play an important role in the food web, especially in fresh water ecosystems. The five main roles of chytrids as described by Gleason et al. (2008) are as follows: chytrid zoospores are a good food source for zooplankton, chytrids decompose particulate organic matter, chytrids are parasites of aquatic plants, chytrids are parasites of aquatic animals, and chytrids convert inorganic compounds into organic compounds. These are important factors as each of these specific situations affect the ecosystem greatly. Chytrid zoospores are a great source of nutrition and are a good size (2-3 μm in diameter) for feeding zooplankton (Gleason et al. 2008). They also contain some organic compounds such as nitrogen, phosphorous, and sulphur, important for supplying vitamins to the zooplankton. As the chytrid zoospores are ingested, their nutrients are transferred up the food chain to higher trophic levels. Chytrids are able to decompose particulate organic matter such as chitin, cellulose, and protein found in snake and hair (Gleason et al. 2008). This is important because these molecules are hard to digest or virtually indigestible by other organisms. With the help of chytrids, these molecules can become dissolved organic matter and thus be taken up by organisms higher up the trophic levels. Chytrids can be parasites of both phytoplankton and vascular plants. They help control seasonal successions of phytoplankton species (Gleason et al. 2008). Chytrids are also parasites of aquatic invertebrates such as rotifers, nematodes, and mites. They help with the regulation of populations in these environments. The fact that chytrids can convert inorganic compounds into organic compounds is essential in the food chain because some of these inorganic compounds are not usable in their inorganic state. For example, there are insoluble states of phosphorous that need to be broken down by chytrids before they can be absorbed. Organic compounds made by chytrids are then able to be used by other organisms in the ecosystem. After introducing the five main roles of chytrids and their importance in the food web, the processes they are involved in, their variety of species, and their evolutionary history will be further discussed in more detail.
Chytrid Life Cycle
Species involved
Processes involved
History of Chytrids
References
Gleason, F., Kagami, M., Lefevre, E., Sime-Ngando, T. 2008. The Ecology of Chytrids in Aquatic Ecosystems: Roles in Food Web Dynamics. Fungal Biology Reviews. 22: 17-25
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