Mold Biology & Ecology Flashcards
7 cards from real CMI practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Mold Biology & Ecology flashcards as text
What is the primary reproductive structure of mold that allows it to spread through the air?
Answer: Spores
Mold reproduces by releasing spores, which are microscopic particles that travel through the air and colonize new surfaces when conditions of moisture, temperature, and nutrients are favorable.
Which of the following best describes the vegetative body of a mold fungus?
Answer: Mycelium
The mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus, consisting of a network of branching thread-like structures called hyphae that absorb nutrients from the substrate.
At approximately what minimum relative humidity do most common indoor molds begin to grow?
Answer: 60%
Most common indoor molds begin to grow when relative humidity exceeds approximately 60%, which is why building scientists recommend keeping indoor RH below this threshold.
Which fungal genus is commonly called 'black mold' and requires chronically wet, cellulose-rich materials to grow?
Answer: Stachybotrys
Stachybotrys chartarum is commonly called 'black mold' and requires consistently saturated cellulose-rich materials such as drywall paper or ceiling tiles, making it a marker of chronic water intrusion.
What is the term for the individual thread-like filaments that collectively form the body of a mold?
Answer: Hyphae
Hyphae are the individual microscopic filaments that, when massed together, form the mycelium — the main structural and nutritive body of a mold fungus.
Which term describes a mold adapted to grow in low-moisture or dry environmental conditions?
Answer: Xerophilic
Xerophilic molds are adapted to grow in low-moisture or dry conditions, allowing them to colonize surfaces even when relative humidity is below levels that support most other mold species.
What is the primary nutrient source for most molds found growing on indoor building materials?
Answer: Cellulose and other organic materials
Most indoor molds obtain nutrition by breaking down cellulose and other organic materials found in drywall paper, wood studs, carpet backing, and other common building components.
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