Who Should Win?
by
James Bow
·
1 year ago
As we bring round one of March Species Madness to a close, we must not forget about our fungi, molds and slime. These species are vital to returning nutrients to the environment. And yet they get so little respect.
Consider the Scrambled Egg Slime. So called because of its appearance, it's also named the dog vomit slime mold. You'll find it in bark mulch in any area seeing heavy rains or excessive watering. It may look yukky, but this slime is a surprisingly complex creature that in some ways resembles an amoeba-like organism that can move, hunting for bacteria or other organic matter to eat.
The Shaggy Mane is so named because of its bell-shaped caps, covered with fibrous scales. It has an alternative name of lawyer's wig. This mushroom is edible, although it decays quickly, and you should never eat mushrooms from the wild unless you've consulted with an expert, or are yourself an expert. Over the past five years, over 90 people have been hospitalized in Ontario due to mushroom poisoning.
But without both of these species, and others like them, wood and plant material would never rot, nutrients would never be released into the soil, and things would stop growing. The environment is a cycle, and species like the scrambled egg slime and the shaggy mane are critical in keeping that cycle moving.
Click here for more fantastic facts about fungi: https://www.bbcearth.com/news/8-fantastic-facts-about-fungi
But only one fungi/mold species can carry on to the next round, and the time to make that decision is now. Vote below:
This content is neither created nor endorsed by StrawPoll.
Create Your Own Poll
Want to create your own poll? With StrawPoll anyone can easily create an online poll in seconds.