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Posted on: November 18, 2008 9:30 PM, by Greg Laden
You do know that it works like this:
Fungus and animals are sister taxa to the exclusion of plants.
This might make the following less scary. Or more scary.
Hat tip: The Lorax. The Lorax is here:
http://angrybychoice.blogspot.com/
(Warning, that site will make noise when you open it.)
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Comments
Nature is awesome. How can you not love it?
Transfer the fungus to humans and that would be a pretty good sci-fi/horror story. And please, let's hope it would remain only a story. Heebie-jeebies!
Posted by: Stephen Moore | November 18, 2008 10:00 PM
Not good to watch over breakfast! Wharf!
Posted by: Jackal | November 19, 2008 8:28 AM
Nyuk, nyuk, nyuk! He said "Murshooms."
Posted by: Virgil Samms | November 19, 2008 9:04 AM
Thanks for the props Greg. I teach my students that fungi are genetically more similar to animals than plants, and then ask why mycology is still the bastion of botany depts. Regardless, I have wondered if the music is annoying or otherwise problematic. Mostly it is there for my benefit, but I wonder if I should remove it....
Posted by: Lorax | November 19, 2008 7:54 PM
OK. They're our brethren. But the scariest quote (Attenborough, n'est pa?) is "The more numerous a species becomes, the more likely it will be attacked by its Nemesis...".
We're pretty numerous.
Posted by: uncle noel | November 19, 2008 8:04 PM
Well, fugni should always be studied in the fungus department!
Music that turns itself on is always bad. Even when it is good.
Posted by: Greg Laden | November 19, 2008 8:51 PM
In my neck of the woods (VT), every fall a different species of caterpillar gets slaughtered by these kinds of fungus. The fungus somehow makes the caterpillar climb high up (on plants, walls, railings) and then wither to a dry hard husk. Then a grey mold springs out(to spread spores?) They look freakin horrible. But its always a different species, and it seems to relate to population blooms.
Posted by: Mr.Mom | November 20, 2008 9:47 AM
Alright, the site doesnt make noise anymore :P
Posted by: Lorax | November 20, 2008 11:11 AM