glowing fungi

[miriam_e]

Mum & Dad have grown a forest on their land over the years. It is really amazing. When they first moved there it was mostly treeless. Now it looks like light rainforest with open glades in it. When I visited them recently they showed me some fungi growing on a log near the house. At night it glows with an incredibly bright light. It got me thinking. When organisms discard large amounts of energy there is usually some utility value behind it. We waste large amounts of heat because if continually stoked we don't have to depend on ambient temperature. It means we have to eat heaps more than reptiles, but we get to be active any time we want and can live in a wider range of climates.

What possible use could fungi have for being so extravagant with light energy? Light is usually used as a signalling system. Perhaps it relies upon some insects or mammals to carry their spores. Other fungi rely mainly on wind, but that is a pretty hit-or-miss affair. If there is some small critter that frequents rotting logs the fungus would have a great advantage in luring them when their spores are ready for distribution.

I go up there again on Thursday. I intend to have a closer look to see if there is light coming preferentially from those that are producing spores. Meanwhile I will see what I can find out in my books and on the net.

Comments

[damien-wise.livejournal.com]

In my wanderings around the net the consensus seems to be that it attracts insects to carry spores.

Not to mention people (such as me) whose first reaction is "Cool! How can I get some of that to grow at my place?" :)

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Heheheh
It wouldn't be the first time a plant has capitalised on humans. Wheat used to be an insignificant grass.

hallo from Italy...

[(Anonymous)]

Dear Miriam, I have find this post while looking around for some Mycena spores... have you ever seen these kind of fungi again, in the last 2 years?
I'm just growing some Panellus stipticus, Omphalotus olearius and Lampteromyces japonicum micelium (all bioluminescent fungi)...

Re: hallo from Italy...

[miriam-e.livejournal.com]

Hi. Yes. They were growing and glowing again in the same rotting logs recently when I visited my family again after some heavy rains. That was in March and April this year I think. Last year they showed again, briefly, about the same time.

I keep intending to get a gill-print of the spores, but I keep forgetting.

There seem to be many more luminous fungi than I first thought.

They are very interesting plants. I'd love to know why they spend all that energy making light (I suspect it is to attract animals to spread their spores). I wonder if we will end up being able to use this in our technology the way deep-sea fish use luminous bacteria. At the moment we use only luciferin (the light-producing chemical luminous fungi use) in glowing party bangles and necklaces and emergency lights at sea. Most of our light-producing technology is very wasteful. We could learn a lesson from these lovely little fungi about making efficient lights.