Happy Halloween!

 

Moles, Molecules and Mushroom Latrines

 

Setting: A sun-dappled clearing in the forest. Walden, a gnome with a pointed hat and a trowel in his hand, sits beside a large mound of freshly turned earth. Molly, a mole with a slightly dusty face, emerges from the tunnel entrance.

Walden: Welcome back to my interview with animal mycophiles, critters that have a relationship with fungi. I chose interviewing a mole, in honor of Mole’s Day an unofficial holiday celebrated on October 23 each year from 6:02 AM to 6:02 PM. It commemorates Avogadro’s number (6.02 x 10²³), a fundamental unit of measurement in chemistry.  

The date and time are chosen because they represent the numerical value of Avogadro’s number: 6.02 (October 2) and 10²³ (23).  

Okay, I know. The chemical unit, mole has nothing to do with the subterranean critter known as a mole. Also, moles are predatory and don’t eat fungi. So what’s the relationship? Let’s find out by speaking to a mole named Molly.

Good morning, Molly. Thank you for taking time out of your subterranean explorations.

Molly: (Puffs out her chest) Indeed, Walden! Another tunnel network cleared and now ready for action.

 Before we get started, let me clarify that we moles are not rodents. I’m  a proud member of the Order Eulipotyphla (formerly known as Insectivora). It includes us, shrews, hedgehogs, and a few others.

 So tell me, what are you digging up today?

Walden: I’m reading about these fascinating mushrooms that seem to have a connection with moles. It’s a field of study called myco-talpology. This science focuses on identifying and understanding the relationship between moles and the underground nests they create. It turns out that you can locate talpid mole nests by looking for the aboveground fruiting of certain mushrooms.

Molly: (Blindly looks up) Mushrooms? You gnomes and your surface-world wonders! Do tell!

Walden: (Picks up a nearby mushroom) Well, apparently, some mushrooms, like this Hebeloma radicosum, grow near mole latrines...

Molly: (Sputters) Latrines? You mean our... uh... waste disposal areas?

Diagram citation Y. Yokohata and S. Nakamura

Sagara, N. 1999.

Walden: (Chuckles) Exactly. Hyphae break down waste and share nutrients with nearby tree roots. (Ectomycorrhizal) 

Molly: Oh, our cleaners.

Walden: It’s a win-win situation. The mushrooms get nutrients; the trees get nutrients, and your latrines stay... well, less latrine-y.

Molly: It’s good to know we’re helping maintain the forest ecosystem in our own special way.

Walden: Absolutely! And who knows, maybe those same mushrooms can even tell us where your nests are located!

Molly: (She sniffs around with a worried face.) Now hold on a minute...

Walden: (Laughs) Just teasing, my friend! But this whole tripartite symbiosis between moles, mushrooms, and trees is quite remarkable, wouldn’t you say?

Molly: (Nods thoughtfully.) It truly is. We moles may not see much sunlight, but it seems even down here, we are connected to the outside world.

Walden: Indeed! Now, care to join me for a cup of tea?

Molly: (Sniffs the air) Can I add some grubs to it?

Walden: (Shakes his head) Most definitely!

Molly: (Smiling) Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse.

(Walden and Monty head back towards Walden’s cozy gnome hole, continuing their conversation.)

References:

Naohiko Sagara, Nobuko Tuno, Yu Fukasawa, Shin-ichiro Kawada

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2022.10.22.513302

https://www.humanegardener.com/moles-underground-wonders/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hebeloma_radicosum

Walden interviews a popular mushroom lover, the land snail.

 

Walden: Good day, Snail, may I call you snail?

Snail: Yes, of course, if I told you my real name, you could not pronounce it. We don’t hear like you do, but have statocysts, which help us detect vibrations. My name is a type of whistle created by my foot that resonates in my cavity.

Walden: I notice all your antennae. How do you sense the world besides vibrations?

Snail: Yes, vibrations are important, but I also use eyestalks, but primarily for detecting light and dark. We favor darkness in order to hide better and not to be exposed to too much heat. We communicate by using chemical signals and we are tactile; you know touchy feely.

Walden: Hmm. Interesting. First question I ask all my guests, where are you found?

Snail: I love the woods, but I’m found just about anywhere from big cities to the deepest jungles. We especially love your gardens.

Walden: Before we go into your relationship with fungi. What are your three superpowers?

Snail: My shell, my radula and, of course, my slime.

Walden: Pray, tell.

Snail: My shell is my portable safe room, thanks to a unique mollusk feature called the mantle. The mantle produces my shell, controls the temperature and moisture levels, keeping me cool and damp in hot weather and warm and protected during colder periods. The shell is a hard calcium carbonate fortress that shields me from predators like hungry birds or curious raccoons. Honestly, I feel sympathy for my slug cousins who cannot protect themselves because of the absence of a shell.

Unlike a crab who needs to shed its exoskeleton to grow, my shell grows with me! The mantle adds new layers of calcium carbonate at the opening of the shell. This allows me to expand my home as I get bigger, ensuring a perfect fit throughout my life.

Walden: What if your shell gets damaged?

Snail: Accidents happen! Thankfully, the mantle can also repair minor cracks or chips in my shell using special calcium-rich mucus. This keeps my super power in top condition and protects me from infections.

Walden: Tell me about your second superpower, the radula.

Snail: Imagine a super powerful tongue made of thousands of tiny teeth! That’s my radula. It’s like a built-in cheese grater on my mouth. I use it to scrape and shred many yummy things for dinner. Leaf buffet? No problem! My radula can tear right through leaves. Algae on a rock? Easy peasy! The tiny teeth scrape it right off. Of course, mushrooms are one of my favorite meals. Next time you find a wild mushroom, look for comb-like scrapes from my radula.

And the best part? New teeth are always growing in to replace the old ones! So, I never have to worry about a dull grater.

Walden: What’s the radula made of?

Snail: Absolutely! My radula is a ribbon-like organ in my mouth with thousands of microscopic teeth made of chitin. These teeth are constantly being replaced at a continuous rate, like a conveyor belt.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Snail_radula_working.png

Walden: Cool. Let’s talk slime, your third superpower.

Snail: You bet! Slime is an underrated superpower for us snails. Here’s the scoop on how it helps me move and communicate. My slime acts like a built-in traction pad. It’s a special mix of mucus, proteins, and carbohydrates that creates a thin layer between my muscular foot and the ground. This layer allows me to grip on many surfaces, even upside down! Think of it like having super sticky sneakers that never need replacing. When I move, ripples of muscle contractions (called pedal waves) travel through my foot. This creates a wavelike motion that propels me forward. The slime smooths the path and reduces friction, propelling me forward with ease.

My slime is a great way to leave a message for other snails. As I move, I leave a trail of slime containing pheromones, which are like chemical signals. These pheromones can tell other snails things like where I’ve been, what I’ve eaten, and even if I’m available for mating. It’s like leaving a scented calling card!

I can also use the slime trails left by other snails to find my way around. This is especially helpful for young snails who are following the trail of their parents to a food source or safe hiding place. The slime trail acts like a helpful map, guiding us to where we need to go.

So, as you see, slime is more than just a slimy mess! It’s a crucial part of my movement and communication system, allowing me to explore, find food, and connect with other snails.

Walden: To find mates?

Snail: I am both male and female (hermaphrodite), but an exchange of gametes (sex cells) is always fun.

Walden: Tell us about your mutualistic relationship with mushrooms.

Snail: Ah yes, mycophagy, we love feasting on mushrooms, and in return, we ingest the spores and then poop them out. We might be slow, but we spread spores throughout. Here is my slug buddy eating a Fly Agaric.

Walden: Thank you for your contribution to fungal distribution and for being my guest.

Snail: It’s been a pleasure. Good sliming.

To learn more about Molluscs go The Living World of Molluscs

To contribute to Molluscan Mycophagy on iNaturalist click HERE

Meet Walden, my gnome companion and earth spirit.

 

Walden on FB

Nestled in my pouch is my most treasured companion—Walden the gnome. His name, a whimsical tribute to Henry David Thoreau’s ode to nature, perfectly suited for a simple life and forest adventures. Similar to Walden Pond, my gnome companion adapts to the changing seasons. Walden, standing at a height of just 2 ½ inches, has a snow-white beard that adds to his charm. Underneath a gnome cap, his mischievous eyes sneak a peek.

Often, perched on my shoulder or peeking out from my pouch, Walden shares my explorations. Try to spot him perched on a moss-covered rock or dancing on a red belted polypore. Other times, he’ll stand gazing wide-eyed at a family of deer, his tiny hand clutching a miniature shovel.

Walden isn’t just a wide-eyed explorer. He is a dedicated mycologist. Walden differs from other gnomes that guard buried trinkets. Instead, the hidden world beneath the forest floor enchants him. The intricate network of mycelium captivates him, the delicate threads that connect to trees, as well as the saprobes that decompose and recycle. Armed with a magnifying glass the size of a ladybug’s spot and a shovel, he is a champion of finding fungi. Walden sees himself as the guardian of the beneficial fungi in the forest. He lectures and does impromptu seminars for the animal mycophiles, teaching them the proper way to spread spores throughout the soil. He even helped me fact check my current work in progress.

Walden speaks the language of nature and will interview many critters and fungi. Occasionally, Walden will interview a plant or even a person. On my blog, I’ll translate Walden’s interviews, transforming his conversations into engaging narratives. Walden will infuse the interviews themselves with his characteristic humor and wonder, while also weaving in scientific facts and explanations. Walden will treat readers, young and old, to a delightful blend of anthropomorphic storytelling and the genuine science behind the wonders of the natural world. So stay tuned for interviews with creatures who have a special relationship with fungi.

Finished noting all my references.

 

My guest appearance on Flora/Funga Podcast/Youtube: Fungal Zoology

 www.florafungapodcast.com/111

Amanita muscaria season on Whidbey Island

 On my Basket List for this month was the Fly Agaric (Amanita muscaria section)