fungivores

Fungivores are organisms that obtain their energy primarily by consuming fungi. The term, rooted in mycology, is used to describe a broad range of feeding strategies in which fungi serve as a major or exclusive food source. Fungivory, or mycophagy, occurs across many taxonomic groups, from microbes to vertebrates, and can involve feeding on fungal fruiting bodies, mycelium, and fungal spores.

Ecological roles: Fungivores influence fungal population dynamics, nutrient cycling, and soil formation. By consuming fungi, they help recycle carbon and minerals and can affect the distribution and abundance of fungal species, including mycorrhizal networks. Some fungivores contribute to spore dispersal when they ingest spores and later excrete them or when spores adhere to their bodies.

Examples: Invertebrates such as springtails (Collembola), mites, woodlice (isopods), and many beetles feed on fungal hyphae or fruiting bodies. Fungus gnats and other Diptera larvae feed on fungi in soil. Termites in subfamilies that cultivate fungi rely on symbiotic fungi as a primary food source, while nematodes include fungivorous species feeding on hyphae. Terrestrial mollusks, like slugs and some snails, also consume fungi.

Adaptations and diet: Fungivores may specialize on certain fungal groups, or be generalist feeders. Digesting fungal cell walls often requires enzymatic tools and, in some cases, microbial symbionts. Fungivory can be seasonal and function as part of detrital food webs, especially in leaf litter and soil environments.

Fungivory is a widespread feeding strategy in ecosystems around the world and represents an important link between fungal communities and higher trophic levels. It contributes to nutrient turnover and microbial community structure, while also providing ecosystem services such as sporulation and dispersal of fungi.