Final answer:
The claim that fungi ingest their food is false. Fungi release exoenzymes to digest nutrients externally, then absorb the simpler molecules through their mycelium network.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement is false; fungi do not ingest their food like animals do. Instead, fungi are heterotrophs that absorb nutrients from their environment. This absorption occurs after the fungi release exoenzymes into their surroundings to externally digest complex organic compounds into smaller molecules. Once these molecules are sufficiently broken down, the fungi use their extensive mycelium to absorb these nutrients. This large surface area of mycelium is highly efficient at absorbing the digested nutrients, which is emblematic of the fungus's unique approach to obtaining nutrition.
Fungi are similar to animals in that they store carbohydrates as glycogen and they require preformed organic compounds as sources of carbon and energy. Unlike animals, however, fungi do not have a digestive system to ingest and internally process food; their method of acquiring nutrients is fundamentally different, involving the external breakdown of food materials via enzymatic action.