11 December 2021 | New Scientist | 31Ghostly fungi
THIS haunting shot of a
bioluminescent fungus may
seem otherworldly, but you
can witness the astonishing
sight in forests here on Earth.
The photo was taken in the
Atherton Tableland plateau in
Queensland, Australia, by nature
photographer Jürgen Freund.
This species is probably
Omphalotus nidiformis, otherwise
known as the ghost fungus, so-
named for its characteristic glow-
in-the-dark properties. It is one
of more than 100 known fungus
species that bioluminesce, or
generate their own light.
The ghost fungus actually
glows continuously, as a
compound within O. nidiformis
called luciferin – the same
substance that makes fireflies
shine – reacts with the enzyme
luciferase and oxygen.
The evolutionary benefit
of the glow of the ghost fungus
and other species like it is unclear.
One theory is that the light attracts
insects, which help the fungus to
disperse its spores more widely
and colonise additional regions
of rainforest. But it could simply
be an incidental by-product
of metabolism.
Freund’s image was highly
commended in the Plants and
Fungi category of this year’s
Wildlife Photographer of the
Year competition, organised
by the Natural History Museum
in London. ❚
Gege Li
Photographer Jürgen Freund
Agency Naturepl.com