The Ecological Benefits of Mushrooms

Good day dear Hive Community, as always I hope you are all well and that you had a pleasant weekend! In this post, I would like to discuss an interesting topic related to mushrooms and hope you can expand your knowledge a little.

Pictures of mushrooms can be seen here and I would like to talk about the different benefits here. Mushrooms play an essential role in nature for the degradation of organic materials, which is of great importance for the natural cycle and the recycled materials become new soil and nutrients. Fungi live in symbiosis with trees and are very important for the nutrient and water absorption and in addition they filter some pollutants from the soil and protect the roots from the infestation of vermin. Mushrooms are also known for making their soil fertile and it is assumed that 10 - 20% of all mushroom species are at risk of extinction and therefore it is particularly important to protect and promote fungi.

Some fungi live in symbiosis with algae and form lichens that live independently of the soil and grow on trees and it is important to know that it does not harm the trees in any way. Lichens absorb the nutrients mainly through the air or rain and fungi protect the lichens from drying out, while in turn lichens supply fungi substances that it cannot produce itself. One of the most important benefits of lichens is to measure the air quality of the forest and at the same time to improve it and if you should see lichens in the forest you can assume that the air in this area is of particularly good quality and it also make the air pollution visible and can be seen as a kind of natural measuring device for air quality.

This interaction between fungi and lichens can also be transferred to plants and meadows, which produce certain substances such as sugar for the fungi and the fungus conversely, provides water and minerals. Mushrooms also often play an important role for animals and the active ingredients contained in mushrooms can help the animals to better absorb hard-to-digested food. Other animal species and insects also benefit from fungi and use it as a shelter and some species of ants or beetles are also dependent on the growth of fungi. Especially tree mushrooms which go in symbiosis with dead trees and thus it creates new space for beetles that live in the wood and often this kind of mushroom also have the power to create entire hatches for birds.

Many thanks for stopping by and watching! I captured these pictures with my Camera Sony Alpha 6000 plus 55-210 mm lens!