Fathomless Fungi: Monsoon Mysteries on Goa’s Forest Floor
Photo StoryPublished : Jun 17, 2022Updated : Sep 29, 2023
We know so little about fungi that practically the entire fungi kingdom and its sophisticated network-based intelligence eludes us. All we can do is revel in what we can see and comprehend
Text by: Purva Variyar
Photos by: Omkar Dharwadkar
We know so little about fungi that practically the entire fungi kingdom and its sophisticated network-based intelligence eludes us. All we can do is revel in what we can see and comprehend
Fungi have been around for a long time. Recent research indicates fungi have been around for some 700 million to 1,000 million years! They were among the earliest creatures to advance onto land and successfully colonise it. Fungi set the stage for all terrestrial plant and animal life that came later. The more you observe and learn about them, the more the fungi lure you into their mind-bogglingly complex, magnificent, intelligent kingdom.
Between the single-celled yeast and one of the largest organisms in the world —the Armillaria ostoyae individual in Oregon, USA, that weighs several tonnes and is spread across nine square kilometres — there is a whole kingdom comprising more than three million species of fungi. So far, only six per cent of these are known to science.
We are only now beginning to understand the true scale of the intelligence and powers fungi possess, and how deeply entwined the lives of plants and animals (including humans) are with them. They have partnerships with plants and animals that make the world go round. Unbeknown to us, endless fungal webs run through the soil forming complex underground networks of the “wood-wide-web” with tree roots forging symbiotic relationships with fungi. These underground root-fungi networks, known as mycorrhizal networks, are the lifeline of any forest, through which plants send warning and distress signals to each other, and receive and exchange nutrients. More than 90 per cent of existing plants depend on mycorrhizal fungi. But unchecked urbanisation and unsustainable agricultural practices are tearing apart these critical ecological networks.
For most of us, mushrooms are synonymous with fungi. But mushrooms are only the tip of the iceberg comprising entangled networks of hyphae (branching, filamentous structures) of a fungus well ensconced underground. Mushrooms essentially are fruiting bodies of fungi carrying spores. Over the course of evolution, fungi have adopted rather creative ways of dispersing these spores for reproduction.
Needless to say, fungi know how to put on a show. See for yourself how some fungi bring Goa’s forest floors to life, decompose forest debris, recycle nutrients, make soil, keep arthropod populations in check, and look so good doing it.
That mysterious luminescence on the forest floor cutting through the tangible darkness is courtesy of Mycena fungi. Only about 70 species of fungi are known to produce such bioluminescence and India’s Western Ghats are blessed with some of them. Why these fungi produce bioluminescence is a relative mystery, but theories suggest that this could be the fungi’s way of attracting insects, active in the dead of night, to help scatter their spores. But there could be deeper more mysterious reasons behind that glow.
Cover photo: The magical luminosity of certain fungi has been an enduring source of scientific mystery for centuries. The fungal bioluminescence, also called “foxfire” or “fairyfire”, produced by fungi such as the Mycena sp., could either offer the fungi an evolutionary advantage or simply be a by-product of biochemical reactions sans any true ecological value. We just don’t know yet.
Why clavarioid fungi are popularly dubbed as “coral” fungi must be clear to you from the look of the mushrooms in these photographs. These fungi advertise their presence each monsoon by growing the characteristic upright, erect, sometimes branching, mushroom structures on decaying vegetation, dead wood, or the ground. India harbours over 100 clavarioid species. The majority of them are saprotrophic, i.e. they feed on dead organic matter, while some of the species form symbiotic associations with plants (ectomycorrhizal) and algae (lichenised).
What do you think is happening to the four animals seen in these photographs? All four arthropods are in the fatal grip of different entomopathogenic fungi. They are a group of parasitic fungi that target, infect, and kill arthropods — spiders and various insects — all for the sake of self-propagation. The fungi have made “zombies” of their hapless hosts using bioactive compounds to evade and hamper their hosts’ immune responses, and take control of their nervous systems and muscles, essentially paralysing them. The fungi Ophiocordyceps sp. (top right), took control of the ant’s behaviour, instructed it to arrive at the particular spot where conditions were conducive to the fungus’ growth, and even forced the ant to sink its mandibles into that leaf’s vein and hold the position till the fungus’ fruiting body burst out of the back of the ant’s head, ready to disperse some spores. Cold, calculated manipulation!
The orange, gelatinous fruiting bodies of the fungi Dacryopinax spathularia make a striking contrast against a dark background. Its forked, spatula-like appearance accounts for its name “spathularia”. The fruiting bodies are usually seen emerging from rotting wood that this fungus grows on and stand just 1-1.15 cm. tall and barely 0.5-3 mm. wide. D. spathularia is an edible jelly fungus, one of 2,000-odd species of fungi known to be relatively safe for human consumption.
A beautiful netted veil-like structure is unique to Phallus indusiatus (also called bridal veil stinkhorn) and a welcome distraction from the core suggestive shape of the fruiting body of the fungus (from the genus “Phallus”). It also has a foul odour and is therefore grouped with other “stinkhorn” fungi. Both the veil and the rotten smell are part of the fungi’s strategic plan to lead spore-dispersing insects to the spore-filled, brown, bulbous organ called gleba. The “rotting meat” scent emanating from the gleba attracts carrion flies (Calliphoridae) that seek out decaying flesh. The purpose of the veil, it is believed, is to provide wingless, crawling insects on the forest floor a ladder with which to climb and reach the gleba.
Don’t be fooled by the diminutiveness and delicate appearance of Marasmius sp. mushrooms or pinwheel fungi. They are tough and can weather dry conditions with aplomb. Their mushrooms shrivel up and stay put until the next bout of rain arrives. Pinwheel fungi are important decomposers (saprotrophic). They break down dead organic matter, releasing important nutrients and minerals into the soil while funnelling some for themselves for energy. Some 84 species of Marasmius fungi are currently known from India.
Polypore fungi display a lot of character. The mushroom structures of most polypore fungi are a departure from the conventional mushroom morphology with bracket-shaped fruiting bodies stacked like “shelves” on both dead and living tree wood. They are better known as bracket or shelf fungi. Polypores contribute significantly as decayers of woody biomass. Some polypore species parasitise living trees. The large “brackets” hinged to the wood create unique microhabitats for a wide number of invertebrate denizens of the forests. They are widely distributed in forests across the world. Many polypore species are mycorrhizal in nature forming close, symbiotic associations with the roots of trees.
About the contributors
Purva Variyar
is a wildlife conservationist, science writer and editor, and hobbyist micrographer. She has previously worked with the Wildlife Conservation Trust, Sanctuary Nature Foundation, and The Gerry Martin Project, and is also a freelance writer and editor.
Omkar Dharwadkar
is a naturalist, wildlife photographer and an entrepreneur. He runs Mrugaya Xpeditions, a responsible tour company. He has travelled across Goa documenting its biodiversity for the past 15 years.
