The-Mycelium-Network
The Mycelium Network
Discovering the secret underground highway connecting our forests.
Lesduur is: 45 minOnderdelen in deze les
The Mycelium Network
Discovering the secret underground highway connecting our forests.
A Secret Connection
Imagine a forest where every single tree is talking to its neighbours. No voices, no phones, just a hidden web beneath your boots.
Could the ground beneath us be one giant, living brain? Let's dive deep into the soil to find out!
Recap: Fungi Classification
Last time, we learned that fungi are their own unique kingdom. They aren't plants because they can't make their own food through photosynthesis.
They belong to the Kingdom Fungi
They include mushrooms, moulds, and yeasts
They absorb nutrients from their surroundings
Quiz: Parts of a Mushroom
Match the words with the pictures
Cap
Gills
Stem
Mycelium
Quiz: Parts of a Mushroom
Match the words with the pictures
Cap
Gills
Stem
Mycelium
✅
B
C
A
D
🤯
What is Mycelium?
The mushroom you see above ground is just a tiny part of the fungus! The real body lives underground.
Mycelium is a vast network of white, thread-like strands called hyphae. It is the vegetative part of the fungus that stays hidden away.
Fun fact
A single teaspoon of healthy forest soil can contain miles of mycelium threads!
The Underground Body
Think of the mushroom like an apple. The mycelium is the tree, and the mushroom is just the fruit!
Above Ground
The Fruiting Body releases spores so the fungus can reproduce.
Below Ground
The Mycelium searches for food, constantly growing and branching.
Building the Network
How does mycelium grow so large? It follows a simple but effective process to claim its territory.
A spore lands and grows a single hypha thread.
The thread branches out to find nutrients.
A dense mat of mycelium forms in the soil.
The Wood Wide Web
Mycelium connects with tree roots to form the Wood Wide Web. This symbiotic relationship helps both sides.
Fungus gets sugar from trees.
Trees get water and minerals from fungus.
Sharing is Caring
The network acts like a postal service. Trees use it to send resources to each other!
Older 'Mother Trees' send sugar to younger saplings that can't reach the sunlight yet. The mycelium carries these nutrients across long distances to keep the whole forest healthy.
A Chemical Language
Trees send chemical 'emails' through the mycelium to warn others about danger.
The Signal
When attacked by insects, trees send warnings through the fungal web.
The Response
Neighbours receive the signal and make chemicals to protect their leaves.
Mind-Blowing Scale
Fungal networks can be massive. In Oregon, USA, there is a honey fungus mycelium that is over 3.7 miles wide!
It is thousands of years old and is considered the largest living organism on Earth. Most of its massive body is completely hidden underground.
Why It Matters Local to Us
Fungal networks exist in your local park and garden, not just deep forests.
Soil Health Mycelium binds soil, preventing erosion during rain.
Recycling Fungi break down leaves, returning nutrients to the earth.
Biodiversity Strong networks support many plant and insect species.
Protecting the Network
What happens if we dig up all the soil or use too many chemicals?
We break the connection! When the mycelium dies, the trees lose their support system. Keeping our soil healthy is the best way to keep our forests alive and talking.
Final Review
The underground part of a fungus is called the ____. It forms a symbiotic relationship with tree roots to share ____ and water. This network is often called the ____ Wide Web.
Word bank 🏦
gills
nutrients
mycelium
seeds
World
mushroom
Wood
Final Review
The underground part of a fungus is called the mycelium. It forms a symbiotic relationship with tree roots to share nutrients and water. This network is often called the Wood Wide Web.
Word bank 🏦
gills
nutrients
mycelium
seeds
World
mushroom
Wood
✅
🧠
Guardians of the Soil
Today we've seen how a tiny thread can connect an entire forest.
Next time, we will look at how some fungi are expert decomposers, turning waste into new life. Keep an eye out for mushrooms on your walk home—remember, there's a whole world beneath them!
Remember
The mycelium is the true 'body' of the fungus, working tirelessly under your feet!
