Rainy weather prevails in the rain forest almost all year round, which makes life easier on the ruins.

Among these lives, fungi grow the most. Mushrooms are tiny fruit bodies of fungi. Huge network of fungi under the ground is out of our sight. Fungi easily decompose carcasses and deliver nutrients to different plants very quickly through the underground network.

This process occurs at the fastest speed in the rain forest. About 1 million species of fungi live here. The characteristics of most of them are still unknown to science. But science is sure that the rain forest would not have survived without the fungus.

Fungi do not grow only in dead bodies. The life cycle of some fungi revolves around the destruction of living organisms. These are known as cordyceps fungi.

These fungi nest in the bodies of special animals. Then they control the insect's brain and make zombies. In this case, the insect's own will is not effective. The fungus forces the insect to stay in a convenient place. Within a few days, the fruit of the fungus emerges from the body of the insect. This fruit spreads fungal spores through the body. The spores float in the air and infect new insects. There are thousands of species of fungi in the world.

Surprisingly each cordyceps has acquired the ability to infect only one insect. Although cruel, these attacks bring benefits to the forest. Cordyceps fungi balance the number of insects in the forest. As the number of insects increases, so does the risk of infection.

Photo by Kamruzzaman Masud

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