Research Links

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/20/fluffy-crab-that-wears-a-sponge-as-a-hat-discovered-in-western-australia

https://www.forbes.com/sites/linhanhcat/2019/06/30/marine-fungi-superpowers/?sh=24794d0516bf

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0960982219301484

https://www.forestfloornarrative.com/blog/2019/1/18/the-aquatic-gilled-mushroom-psathyrella-aquatica

The aquatic gilled mushroom; Psathyrella aquatica.

Spungells

The spider fungus, invades the spider. Taking over its bodily functions. Causes the spider to invade a hermit crab/spider shell and bite the hermit within. The hermit then burrows into the sand, and the spider binds itself to the hermit with its web. They then enter into a hibernation period. Following the hibernation period, the fungus has engulfed the creatures, whilst retaining certain aspects from both. The fungus then continues to grow from the shell, creating shell-like spines which contain the venom from the spider within them. Now it is able to be in and out of water, the Spungel has the ability to hunt for its next victim in all terrains.

  • Red algae could link to blood like aspect (like flamingos turning pink)
  • Sea snails and spiders are the hosts
  • Science lab scene?
  • Rats with mushrooms coming from their heads – experiments
  • Similar to weaver fish spines, if a human stepped on this shell, they can become infected
  • Shell creates a perfect chasm for releasing spores
  • Even if not stepped on, if lifted up to look or listen to, the shell will release spores
  • Has the advantage of both venom and spore transition

Fossils: fossils found in the hibernation stages etc, buried into the sand/rock

https://www.fandom.com/articles/the-real-world-parasite-behind-the-last-of-us

https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/but-not-simpler/the-fungus-that-reduced-humanity-to-the-last-of-us/#:~:text=The%20new%2C%20unidentified%20species%20of,is%20the%20un%2Ddeath%20sentence.

 

Zombifying Fungi – Scientific Scribbles

Spider & Entomopathogenic fungus, Ophiocordyceps englerian… | Flickr

Fungal Infection on Jumping Spider (Phiddipus putnami) - BugGuide.Net

Cordyceps fungus parasitizing a spider - Stock Image - C028/1635 - Science Photo Library

iNaturalist on Twitter: "Our #FungusFriday Observation of the Day is this Gibellula #fungus, parasitizing what looks to be a jumping #spider! Seen in #Malaysia by siburanlai. More details at: https://t.co/kdvoiQzDhE #mycology #nature #

Spider with cordyceps infection (Gibellula sp.) | Photo from… | Flickr

Presentation ideas

Presentation 1: Bronze mushrooms presented on live moss built into a horizontal plinth. Viewers can place their ear to the mushrooms to hear the sounds of the forest. Interactive and aesthetic. Connotations of a coffin. Clinical.

Presentation 2: three tree stumps, each mushroom plays birdsong over the years and how it is declining over time. The moss/lichen on the stumps lessens also, a visual representation of the decay of nature due to climate change/other factors. Able to decipher between time gaps by having them presented on separate plinths.