Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Fungi Spore Discharges

Below are two examlpes of very high-speed videos of fungi launching their spores. A summary and link to the source study are provided below:

"In this study, we have used ultra-high-speed video cameras running at maximum frame rates of 250,000 fps to analyze the entire launch process in four species of fungi that grow on the dung of herbivores. For the first time we have direct measurements of launch speeds and empirical estimates of acceleration in these fungi. Launch speeds ranged from 2 to 25 m s−1 and corresponding accelerations of 20,000 to 180,000 g propelled spores over distances of up to 2.5 meters. In addition, quantitative spectroscopic methods were used to identify the organic and inorganic osmolytes responsible for generating the turgor pressures that drive spore discharge."

The Fastest Flights in Nature: High-Speed Spore Discharge Mechanisms among Fungi:





More videos can be downloaded from here.