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It may seem to be an unlikely laboratory subject for a high school biology class, but the study of dung-inhabiting or coprophilous fungi can provide many rewarding activities that illustrate basic lab techniques and fundamental ecological concepts. The setup is inexpensive, easy to initiate and maintain, and provides many opportunities for refinement and development of new experiments. Dung samples incubated in a moist, covered container exposed to indirect light should support the growth of coprophilous fungi for at least several weeks. Numerous dung sources are possible, with common herbivorous mammals such as horses, cattle, sheep, rabbits and deer being the most accessible and productive. Dung collected from animals in the wild often provides the most diverse communities of fungi, but domesticated animals can also be used, especially if they are fed natural herbage. Dung can be collected ahead, particularly if travel brings the teacher or the student to a distant area with different animals. In this case, samples should be air-dried, put in air-tight containers, and kept in a cool place until water is added to activate spore germination. Small animals can be trapped, or pets can be fed natural herbage, so dung samples collected in captivity. Collection and incubation of the dung of carnivorous animals is not recommended, as these animals are likely to harbor the spores of fungi and various stages of invertebrate parasites potentially pathogenic to humans. The information on fungi associated with |
