Does Fungi Feed on Living & Dead Organisms?

The Fungi kingdom of organisms includes many species, such as yeasts and mushrooms, that are in daily use in human life. Along with bacteria, they perform an important role in breaking down organic matter. According to the Merck online medical manual, some species, such as Candida albicans and Malassezzia pachydermatis, are normally found on human skin.

General Nutrition of Fungi

• According to doctorfungus.org, because fungi do not possess the chlorophyll that plants use to convert sunlight into energy, they must absorb food from the environment around them. Dr. Michael Gregory, of Clinton Community College, New York, describes their digestion as extracellular, meaning that they secrete enzymes into their surroundings, producing nutrients that they then absorb.

Saprophytic Fungi

• Saprophytic fungi as those that absorb their nutrients from dead matter. These include Stachybotrys chartarum, which produces toxins and can infect the materials of your home and Penicillium griseofulvin, which we use to make antibiotics.

Parasitic Fungi

• Parasitic fungi feed on living organisms. Candida albicans is a yeast which normally lives harmlessly on the skin of humans and animals. Excessive damp or a poor immune system can cause it to overgrow, giving rise to thrush. Ringworm is another disease caused by parasitic fungi known as dermatophytes. These fungi live on keratin, which is only found in skin, hair and nails.