Coprophilous fungi

Coprophilous fungi are a type of saprobic fungi that grow on animal dung.

Life cycle

Coprophilous fungi release their spores to the surrounding vegetation, which is then eaten by herbivores. The spores then remain in the animal as the plants are digested, pass through the animal's intestines and are finally defecated. The fruiting bodies of the fungi then grow from the animal dung.

Nutrition and survival

The animal dung provides an environment rich in nitrogenous material, which has been largely sterilised by the high temperature, as well as the enzymes in the animal's digestive system. The spores themselves survive digestion by being particularly thick-walled, allowing them to germinate in the dung with minimum competition from other organisms. The spores are so hardy that samples of dried dung can later be rehydrated, allowing the fungus to fruit weeks later.

Distribution

The distribution of coprophilous fungi is closely linked to the distribution of the herbivores on which they rely, such as rabbits, deer, cattle, horses and sheep. Some species rely on a specific species for dung; for instance, Coprinus radiatus and Panaeolus campanulatus grow almost exclusively on horse feces, while others, such as Panaeolus sphinctrinus, can grow on any feces or even just particularly fertile soil. Further, some species (such as Conocybe rickenii) can be found in large numbers in areas where manure has been used as a soil fertilizer, such as in gardens. Some coprophilous fungi are also known to grow from the dung of omnivores (such as Chaetomium globisporum from rat droppings) or even carnivores (such as Chaetomium rajasthanense, from tiger feces).

Species

Although mostly microscopic, there

• Bolbitius vitellinus
• Conocybe pubescens
• Conocybe rickenii
• Coprinus niveus
• Coprinus narcoticus
• Coprinus patouillardii
• Coprinus radiatus
• Panaeolus campanulatus
• Panaeolus sphinctrinus
• Panaeolus semiovatus
• Psilocybe coprophila
• Psilocybe merdaria
• Stropharia semiglobata

References

• Pegler, David N. (1983). Mushrooms and Toadstools. London: Mitchell Beazley Publishing. pp. 162–165. ISBN 0855335009.