Mongabay.com is considered a leading source of information on tropical forests by some of the world's top ecologists and conservationists. TROPICAL RAINFORESTS: The Understory





Fungi

Fungi (Mycota Kingdom) lack chlorophyll and do not photosynthesize like plants to make food. Instead fungi are saprophytes, or organisms that feed of dead material. They feed by penetrating plant and animal tisue and secreting substances that break down structural material into simple sugars.

Despite their essential ecological role in everything from agriculture to forest function, there remains much to be learned about fungi.


Continued: Rainforest floor


This article was written by Rhett A. Butler [bibliographic citation for this page] and was last updated on the most recent date listed in the column on the right side.



Other pages in this section:
 Forest Floor Intro
Seeds & Fruit
Mammals (Herbivores)
Birds
Invertebrates
- - - - -
References
 Soils & Nutrient Cylcing
Forest Succession
Mammals (Carnivores & Omnivores)
Reptiles & Amphibians

- - - - -
Kids version of this section
The forest floor



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Copyright Rhett Butler 1994-2011

"Rainforest" is used interchangeably with "rain forest" on this site. "Jungle" is generally not used.