The Basidiocarp (mushroom) of many club fungi are deadly poisonous. Amanita falloides for example is a mushroom that is deadly poisonous and can kill a person even if he/she eats only a few bites.  As we covered in our ecology unit, it is physiologically expensive to become this poisonous.  Agaricus bisporis is also a species of club fungus (mushroom) that occupies the same areas as Amanita falloides, and has a very similar appearance.  Agaricus bisporis, however, has not evolved to produce toxic mushrooms. 1.  Explain why it is beneficial for Amanita falloides to invest so much energy into making it's mushrooms in particular so poisonous. 2.  Based on the concepts covered in our course, provide an ecological explanation for why Agaricus bisporous has not evolved to produce toxic mushrooms.  ***Hint--think about the relationship between these two mushroom species***.

Biology Today and Tomorrow without Physiology (MindTap Course List)
5th Edition
ISBN:9781305117396
Author:Cecie Starr, Christine Evers, Lisa Starr
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Chapter14: Plants And Fungi
Section: Chapter Questions
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The Basidiocarp (mushroom) of many club fungi are deadly poisonous. Amanita falloides for example is a mushroom that is deadly poisonous and can kill a person even if he/she eats only a few bites.  As we covered in our ecology unit, it is physiologically expensive to become this poisonous.  Agaricus bisporis is also a species of club fungus (mushroom) that occupies the same areas as Amanita falloides, and has a very similar appearance.  Agaricus bisporis, however, has not evolved to produce toxic mushrooms.

1.  Explain why it is beneficial for Amanita falloides to invest so much energy into making it's mushrooms in particular so poisonous.

2.  Based on the concepts covered in our course, provide an ecological explanation for why Agaricus bisporous has not evolved to produce toxic mushrooms.  ***Hint--think about the relationship between these two mushroom species***. 

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