The purpose of fungus in the outdoors is to breakdown, digest, and recycle dead organic growth and materials. It is natures way of dealing with refuse such as dead leaves, dea
…d trees, dead animals, etc. It is natures vast digestion system. Research has found that there are types of fungus which are of use to mankind for medicines and also fuels. Whether or not living organisms have "purpose" is not something that can be answered by scientists. This is a philosophical question to which we do not know the answer. In fact, we may never know the answer. Science can describe the function of fungi in the biosphere. Fungi function mostly as heterotrophs and decay organisms, breaking down the tissue of dead organisms to extract energy and nutrients, thus forming soil and mobilising nutrients. There are exceptions, though. Some fungi are pathogenic (disease-causing) parasites in living things, such as athlete's foot and corn smut, while others are mutualists, such as mycorrhizae and those that form lichens. ( Full Answer )