There are over 64,000 species of sac fungi. These fungi are named for the microscopic sacs their spores form in. Most lichens have a fungus from this family. A lichen is an organism formed by the symbiotic relationship of a fungus with an algae.

Microcolonial fungi adapt to extreme conditions: fungi
 

Free-living ascomycetes growing in colonies can spread into the extremely hostile environments including deserts because they possess extracellular polymeric substances and other adaptations.

   
  “Rock-inhabiting MCF [microcolonial fungi] endure sudden changes in the environment by rapidly adapting their metabolic activity, life style and survival structures to the new conditions. Ultrastructural peculiarities of these fungi suggest spore-like metabolism and protection (Fig. 6) although MCF do not propagate sexually (Gorbushina, 2003; Gorbushina et al., 2003). Relevant characteristics of poikilo-tolerant MCF include: (i) the capacity to survive long periods of suspended metabolism. In this way, they can remain as colonies made up of pseudo tissue-like microcolonies comprising 100–500 cells for several decades until conditions favourable to further growth return; (ii) the ability to re-organize internally by constantly replacing dying or dead cells with new buds (Gorbushina et al., 2003) and Fig. 6C; (iii) the ability to form filamentous hyphae that develop from clump-like colonies (Fig. 5E) to penetrate deep into rocks thus protecting themselves from environmental stresses. In this sense, the visible portion of melanized MCF is like the tip-of-the-iceberg, because the hyphae can rapidly penetrate several mm to cm into hard rocks in search of more protected environments and; (iv) the ability to create a multitude of varnish-like coatings, skins and shells that arise from the impregnation of the extracellular matrix and melanin layers with minerals (Dragovich, 1984; 1993; 1998; Gorbushina, 2003).” (Gorbushina 2007:1619-1620)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Colonial living leads to long-term survival: fungi
 

Free-living ascomycetes survive unfavorable conditions by forming pseudo tissue-like microcolonies.

     
  "The capacity to survive long periods of suspended metabolism allows free-living ascomycetes to remain as colonies made up of pseudo tissue-like microcolonies comprising 100–500 cells for several decades until conditions favourable to further growth return." (Gorbushina 2007:1620)
  Learn more about this functional adaptation.

Collection Sites: world map showing specimen collection locations for Ascomycota

Barcode of Life Data Systems (BOLD) Stats
                                                             

Specimen Records:	3,260
Specimens with Sequences:	2,644
Specimens with Barcodes:	537
Public Records:	537
Species:	708
Species With Barcodes:	597

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