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How do Fungi and Bacteria move over long distances?

User Oderfla
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Final answer:

Fungi move by growing and through spore dispersal by wind, water, or animal vectors, while bacteria move using flagella and can also disperse by forming spores that are spread to new locations.

Step-by-step explanation:

Fungi move over long distances primarily by growing into new territories and through spore dispersal. The fungal networks use fluid channels that function like highways to transport nutrients and nuclei efficiently within their cells, preventing microscopic traffic jams. When it comes to spore dispersal, fungi produce spores either through sexual or asexual reproduction, which then disperse from the parent organism using various vectors like wind, water, or animals. For instance, the giant puffball mushroom releases trillions of spores that float away on the wind. Additionally, animals play a role in fungal spore dispersal, as seen with leaf-cutter ants and fungal spores that survive passage through the digestive systems of herbivores.

On the other hand, bacteria move using their flagella, which can propel them at speeds up to 50 µm/s. However, their actual displacement is usually small because movement is often in a random fashion. Some soil bacteria, like Actinomyces, grow in long filaments and can form aerial filaments and spores to aid in dispersal. These spores can lead to new colonies, spreading the bacteria over larger distances.

User Nyks
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