Final answer:
The evolution of fungi to digest cellulose using enzymes like cellulase has led them to become essential decomposers in ecosystems, breaking down plant material and recycling nutrients. It has also supported herbivores that depend on fungi for digestion of cellulose. Additionally, these metabolic capabilities show potential for environmental bioremediation efforts.
Step-by-step explanation:
The consequence of fungi evolving the capacity to digest cellulose was significant for the ecosystem. Fungi, as saprobes, derive nutrients from decaying organic matter, largely plant material. Their ability to produce enzymes like cellulase allows them to break down cellulose, the major component of plant cell walls, into glucose. This process not only enables fungi to absorb nutrients but also plays a critical role in breaking down dead plant material, thereby recycling essential elements back into the environment. Furthermore, fungi's varied metabolic pathways have an important ecological role and have potential use in bioremediation strategies to clean chemically damaged ecosystems.
The adaptation of fungal hyphae, which have a high surface area-to-volume ratio, is complemented by the secretion of hydrolytic exoenzymes. These enzymes break down large organic molecules into smaller molecules that can be absorbed by fungal cells. The enzyme cellulase, in particular, breaks down cellulose into glucose monomers, which are further absorbed as nutrients or used in energy production. This development has supported the fungi in becoming efficient decomposers in ecosystems and supports other species, including herbivores, that rely on them for the digestion of cellulose-rich plant material.