Category:Fungus and fungal diseases/What is fungus?

What is fungus?
A fungus (plural fungi) is a eukaryotic organism that digests its food externally and absorbs the nutrient molecules into its cells. Along with bacteria, fungi are the primary decomposers of dead organic matter in most terrestrial ecosystems.

Fungus propagate via billions of spores which travel through the air and water and settle on all surfaces waiting for a food source to appear and so the fungus can be said to be everywhere waiting for the right conditions.

When fungus attacks an aquatic animal then this is almost always due to a break in the skin of the animal which then then allows fungus spores to settle within and start growing, feeding on the decaying flesh of the animal.

This is called a secondary infection because usually bacteria is already present in the wound causing the flesh to decay and so providing a source of food for the fungus.

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