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Physical properties of fungal rhizomorphs of marasmioid basidiomycetes used as nesting material by birds
Author(s) -
FREYMANN BERND P.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.2007.00750.x
Subject(s) - nesting (process) , nest (protein structural motif) , biology , ecology , botany , materials science , metallurgy , biochemistry
The use of fungal rhizomorphs of marasmioid fungi (‘horsehair fungi’) as nesting material, especially by tropical bird species, is a widespread but poorly documented phenomenon. I show in this first experimental examination of the physical properties of ‘horsehair fungi’, that the fungal rhizomorphs utilized by Icterus pustulatus have a significantly higher tensile strength and reduced water uptake than alternative fibres used to build nests. These results suggest an adaptive advantage for the use of marasmioid fungi in nest construction.