Adaptation

As organisms continue to exist, adaptations to changed environmental conditions occur. Amanita muscaria has developed a few notable adaptations:

• Number of Spores: to maximize the chance of fertilization, Amanita muscaria has adapted to have a large number of basidiospores as the result of the dense structure of the gills and basidium (shown in the picture below).

Source: http://www.pilzepilze.de/galerie/v/Lateinisch/A/amanita/muscaria/_50.html

• Orientation of the Cap: in addition, to maximize the chance of fertilization, Amanita muscaria has adapted to have caps that are parallel to the ground as a result of negative gravitropism, meaning bending away from the ground, as shown below. This adaptation results in a larger range of spore dispersal.

Note that the cap is slightly tilted to match the unleveled ground.
Source: http://www.pilzepilze.de/galerie/v/Lateinisch/A/amanita/muscaria/_19.html

• Ectomycorrhizae: ectomycorrhizae means the mutually symbiotic relationship with trees. This relationship allows Amanita muscaria to have an extra source of nutrients as mentioned in Nutrition. The picture below shows the relationship between Amanita muscaria and a tree.

Photo Source: http://www.pilzepilze.de/galerie/v/Lateinisch/A/amanita/muscaria/5.html

• Inability to decompose: many scientists have discovered that Amanita muscaria does not decompose any longer due to the symbiotic relationship between Amanita muscaria and trees. It lost the ability to decompose as a result of the symbiosis which helps it to absorb additional nutrients. Therefore, some of the Amanita muscaria which have a symbiotic relationship with a tree may lose the ability to decompose.

These adaptations allow Amanita muscaria to be more competitive for existence and increase the chance of its reproduction.