why are so many different clumps of mushrooms appearing in this particular year? and what do ground slugs do to them? do they eat them or is a symbiotic relationship whereby the slug cleans the mushroom, thereby giving it some medicine or food that it needs? slugs are not on all mushroom clumps, only some. why is that?
2006-09-26 08:16:54 · 6 answers · asked by Louiegirl_Chicago 5 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Botany
I'm not sure where you are, but it could be that you are in an area that is getting more humid and wet weather, more conducive to growth of both slugs and mushrooms.
Depending on the type of mushroom and type of slug the slugs could be eating the mushrooms as a main food source.
It could also be that something has killed off the natural predators of the slugs. (frogs and salamanders.)
I do know that some plants are pollinated (or in the case of mushrooms the spores are spread) by slugs. It may be that the slugs increased first, and are helping to increase the mushrooms by spreading their spores.
2006-09-26 13:04:06 · answer #1 · answered by yardchicken2 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ground slugs (are there aerial slugs?) do nothing to mushrooms except 'walk on them', rasping and chewing as they go. Random. Mushrooms grow in specific conditions, not just in damp areas. Certain mushroom mycelia - the 'roots' so to say, may take several weeks, or even years to develop underground. The mushroom you see is only the fruit of an underground network that can be many metres wide. Look up 'Fairy Rings' , or look at my lawn. Both slugs and 'shrooms need damp to survive aboveground.
Any mushroom should be approached with caution, some contain medicinal properties (and I'm not talking about psylocibin) and some are just terribly toxic. Amanita in particular - worth the risk for certain diseases. But liable to induce psychosis in the patient, if not killing them outright. Good things indeed, once we understand them.
2006-10-04 06:39:13 · answer #2 · answered by BrettO 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The whole idea of global warming and the dampness and humidity that follows may play a big role in the mushrooms and slugs...
Mushrooms grow in the dark and need a humid climate as do slugs...If you are in school, you may consider doing a term paper on the changes Mother Nature will cause as a result of global warming...should make for a very interesting blog...
2006-09-26 15:28:15 · answer #3 · answered by marnefirstinfantry 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mushrooms like moist and rotting/rich decaying material to grow on....
Slugs need moisture to survive so we had plenty of that in the northeast. slugs are scavengers....so an abundance of mushroom attract them.
2006-10-03 22:02:25 · answer #4 · answered by Sammyleggs222 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I suppose the more damp an area is ... the more mushrooms and slugs (eewww...).
2006-10-02 23:44:50 · answer #5 · answered by Mousey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
more rain = more mushrooms and slugs.
2006-09-26 22:41:47 · answer #6 · answered by Ralph 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋