Dung cannon fungus firing spores
Videonummer 11941787
| Timelapse footage of the dung cannon fungus (Pilobolus crystallinus) growing and then firing its spores. This fungus, in the Mucorales order, is unique in that it distributes its reproductive spores through an explosion of its spore-bearing sporangium. The fruiting structure grows towards light, raising it above the surface. The explosion is driven by a build-up of fluid pressure in a capsule beneath the sporangium (black). When the pressure reaches a critical level the capsule ruptures, throwing the spores as far as three metres. As its name implies, this fungus grows on dung, typically cow pat, Once ejected, the spores adhere to grass or other vegetation, and are eaten by grazing animals. They pass through the animals' digestive systems before being passed in their faeces, where the cycle continues. The fungus itself does not harm the animals, although some parasitic nematodes such as lungworm hitchhike on the sporangia, and cause diseases in their host. Filmed at Cilgwyn Mill, west Wales, UK. Captured at one frame per second (speeded up 25 times). | |
| Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
| Credit: | Science Photo Library / Stammers, Sinclair |
| Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
| Länge: | 38 Sekunden |
| Seitenverhältnis: | 16:9 |
| Restrictions: | - |
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