Fungi That Eat Worms: Nature's Tiny Predators at Work

Abstract

Predation is a potent ecological and evolutionary force, yet its occurrence within the fungal kingdom has only recently now becoming better understood. Nematophagous fungi—fungi that capture and consume nematodes—exemplify how fungi have repeatedly evolved extraordinary strategies for hunting nematodes, one of the most abundant animal groups on Earth. These strategies include the mechanical ingenuity of nematode-trapping fungi, which construct elaborate adhesive and constricting devices, and the chemical arsenal of oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus spp.), which deploy toxins to immobilize their prey. In this lecture, I will explore the biology and evolution of fungal predation, drawing from our research into the development, regulation, and function of traps, as well as the behavioral and physiological response of the nematodes when encouturing predatory fungi. I will discuss how these interactions have shaped the evolution of the predatory fungi and contributed to the dynamics of soil ecosystems.