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404
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Registered: 08/20/10
Posts: 14,539
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mushrooms promote downpours
#22447909 - 10/29/15 06:04 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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http://news.discovery.com/earth/mushrooms-promote-downpours-151028.htm
Quote:
Oct 28, 2015 02:00 PM ET // by Jennifer Viegas
Nature’s cloud seeders are mushrooms, with spores that promote raindrops and may lead to downpours, new research finds.
The study, published in the journal PLOS ONE, documents a previously unknown feedback system whereby rain stimulates mushroom growth, and then the fully fruited mushrooms release spores that could result in later rain.
“We can watch big water droplets grow as vapor condenses on (the mushroom spore’s) surface,” said senior author Nicholas Money of Miami University’s Biology Department. “Nothing else works like this in nature.”
Raindrops do form to a lesser degree around many different types of particulate matter, such as pollen. In a similar process, people seed clouds with compounds like silver iodide and solid carbon dioxide (dry ice).
Lead author Maribeth Hassett, Money and co-author Mark Fischer determined that spores from certain mushrooms and other fungi are probably even more potent rainmakers -- and they're not pollutants.
Prior research conducted by Reginald Buller, whom Money refers to as the “Einstein of Mycology,” found that mushroom spores are discharged from their gills by the rapid displacement of fluid on cell surfaces and stimulation from the mushroom’s production of sugars, such as mannitol. A catapult mechanism shoots the moisture-laden spores into the air, where the liquid evaporates. PHOTOS: NASA's Extreme Weather Photo Contest
Droplets reform on the water-attracting spores in humid air, the scientists discovered after watching the process under electron microscopy. Over time, the droplets may evolve into large water drops that may produce rainclouds.
The effect is likely dramatic over rainforests that support very large populations of mushrooms and other fungi. It also could be significant during warmer months of the year above vast northern hemisphere boreal forests.
Any fungi that release their spores via a catapult mechanism can attract moisture, resulting in possible rainclouds, according to the scientists.
“Wild porcini, for example, has spores of this kind; oyster mushrooms too,” Money said. “Sixteen thousand species of mushrooms can do the same trick, so the most abundant species of fungi are likely to have the greatest effect upon cloud formation.”
Money, who is the author of the book “Mushroom,” does not advise growing a bunch of mushrooms to relieve drought conditions.
“Nature works very well when we leave her alone,” he said. “The problems start when we cut down too many trees, burn fossil fuels, and keep multiplying as if there are no limits to human population.” Heavy Rains Flood Florida Panhandle: Photos
Fungi appear to be here for the long haul, though, having emerged on earth at least 500 million years ago. In addition to the new discovery about their rainmaking potential, they play a key role in ecosystems by decomposing plant tissues and dominating the recycling of nutrients in forests and grasslands.
“Without mushrooms, there would be no forests," Money said, "and without forests, humans would never have evolved.”
Lynne Boddy of the Cardiff School of Biosciences told Discovery News that “it is intriguing to think about” the newly discovered positive feedback system, holding “that fungal spores may be responsible for causing rain to fall on forests, supplying the water that the fungi need to fruit.”
Boddy said fungi “are absolutely crucial to the functioning of forests and other terrestrial ecosystems,” and they often supply plants with mineral nutrients and water. Edible mushrooms supply such beneficial components to human diners also.
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: mushrooms promote downpours [Re: 404]
#22448230 - 10/29/15 08:06 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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I fucking swear yesterday I was thinking this exact theory as I watched a huge storm pass just to the north of me. I literally wondered if psilocybe spores get spread around by storms on a massive scale and fall out miles away.
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morbiddoctor
Frilly fungal fruiter



Registered: 07/05/09
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Holy shit
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EastBayRay

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Gorlax



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Re: mushrooms promote downpours [Re: EastBayRay]
#22448753 - 10/29/15 11:07 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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It would make sense for the species of mushroom to survive to adapt pollen that could induce rain because without moisture they are doomed. Crazy.
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passifloracaerulea



Registered: 11/13/10
Posts: 10,485
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Re: mushrooms promote downpours [Re: Gorlax]
#22448771 - 10/29/15 11:13 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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It's an amazing form of genetic dispersal.
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



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I'm in awe. this really makes you wonder if fungi were engineered by aliens and planted here to jumpstart an experiment or if natural evolution really does in fact kick that much ass.
Edited by Psilosopherr (10/29/15 01:18 PM)
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Achillita
Back to the basics



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Mushrooms are so cool man...
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McNel


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Re: mushrooms promote downpours [Re: Achillita]
#22452020 - 10/30/15 01:44 AM (8 years, 3 months ago) |
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That's awesome
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pablokabute
Hari ng Amag



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Re: mushrooms promote downpours [Re: McNel]
#22465186 - 11/02/15 01:25 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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All hail fungi
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Fermented Mushrooms!! --- https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/23378638/fpart/1/vc/1 'The second seal: “All CONTAMINATED things and events are unsatisfactory.”' "I envy you. You North Americans are very lucky. You are fighting the most important fight of all - you live in THE HEART OF THE BEAST." --Anonymous Guerilla, or is he..
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Psilosopherr
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Re: mushrooms promote downpours [Re: pablokabute]
#22466217 - 11/02/15 11:02 AM (8 years, 2 months ago) |
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wonder if they can trigger fog this way too
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Psilosopherr
A psilly goose



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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fog
Yep, same stuff as clouds. I'm wondering if certain wild mushrooms are triggered to sporulate when ideal fog formation temperatures are reached. Perhaps at least the long term ones like polypores.
google yielded nothing useful on the subject however
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Jeff Vader
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Living in a water scarce country I can visibly see the growth in my mushrooms when rain does come around. I had this theory but no way to prove it.
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