People who study fungi are called mycologists. The study of mycology usually includes the study of mushrooms, toad stools, yeasts and slime molds.
Fungi are important organisms that serve many roles in ecosystems and our lives.
They absorb their food after secreting digestive enzymes into the environment in which they grow. They are therefore heterotrophic organisms and get their food from other organisms or detritus. They serve as decomposers and break down the bodies of dead plants and animals and thus release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and nitrogenous compounds into the soil. They are important in recycling valuable nutrients and minerals that will be promote growth of plants. The fungi may develop symbiotic relations with plants serving as mycorrhizae which attach themselves to the roots of many plants and assist in water uptake as well as providing essential mineral and nutrients.