Protists are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that can be divided into three categories: animal-like protists, plant-like protists, and fungus-like protists. Plant-like protists include algae and are important producers of oxygen on Earth. Protists exhibit diverse characteristics and fulfill important ecological roles.
Protists are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that can be divided into three categories: animal-like protists, plant-like protists, and fungus-like protists. Plant-like protists include algae and are important producers of oxygen on Earth. Protists exhibit diverse characteristics and fulfill important ecological roles.
Protists are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that can be divided into three categories: animal-like protists, plant-like protists, and fungus-like protists. Plant-like protists include algae and are important producers of oxygen on Earth. Protists exhibit diverse characteristics and fulfill important ecological roles.
Protists are unicellular eukaryotic organisms that can be divided into three categories: animal-like protists, plant-like protists, and fungus-like protists. Plant-like protists include algae and are important producers of oxygen on Earth. Protists exhibit diverse characteristics and fulfill important ecological roles.
Protists are unicellular organisms that have a nucleus.
Kingdom: Protista
Similar to Bacteria
Unicellular One of the first groups of living things on Earth. (1.5 billion years ago.) Microscopic Can cause disease. Can be parasites
Difference from Bacteria
Has a nucleus. Live in watery environment. Generally live as individual cells. Protists vary greatly in appearance and function.
Protists are divided into three categories
I. Animal-like Protists.
II. Plant-like Protists.
III. Fungus-like Protists.
I.Animal-like Protists (Protozoan)
o Protozoan means “first Animal”
o Calls contain a nucleus o Cell lack a cell wall o They are heterotrophs o Most can move on their own
There are 4 groups of Animal-like Protists
1. Sarcodines:
o Have pseudopods (false foot)
o Extension of the cell membrane and cytoplasm o Pseudopods are used for movement and to capture food. o Many have shells. These shells form limestone, marble and chalk. Example: Amoeba
Most familiar Sarcodine.
Pseudopods: Blob shaped. Contractile Vacuoles: controls amount of water inside Food Vacuole: where food is digested Ameba's reproduce by dividing into two new cells (binary fission). Ameba's can respond to their environment. They are sensitive to light and some chemicals.
2. Ciliates:
Have cilia (tiny hair like projection used for movement, to gather food and as feelers) on the outside of their cells.
Example: paramecium
Pellicle: tough outer wall.
Slipper shaped Oral groove: like the mouth Gullet: holds food. Food Vacuole: digests food. Anal Pore: removes wastes 2 Contractile Vacuoles 2 Nuclei Reproduces by either binary fission or conjugation.
3. Flagellates:
Have flagellum (a long whip like structure used for movement).
Symbiosis: a close relationship, at least one benefits
Mutualism: when both partners benefits
4. Sporozoans:
o All Sporozans are parasites.
o They feed on cells and body fluids. o Form from Spores (tiny reproductive cells). o Pass from one host to another. o Pass from ticks, mosquitoes or other animals to humans.
II) Plant like Protists
o Unicellular and Multicellular
o Colonies (groups of unicellular protists) o Can move on their own o Autotrophs: make their own food from simple materials using light energy (photosynthesis). o 70% of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by Plant-like Protists! o Pigments: chemicals that produce color
There are 6 Groups of Plant like Protists
1. Euglenoids o Green, Unicellular, Chloroplasts , Pellicle o Live in fresh water o Autotrophs, but can be heterotrophs under certain conditions. o Flagella, Eyespot: sensitive to light, 2. Diatoms o Unicellular, Aquatic, 10,000 living species. o Glass like cell wall o Diatomaceous earth: course powder that comes from dead diatoms (toothpaste, car polish & reflective paint.
3. Dinoflagellates
o Unicellular, Cell walls are like plates of armor, Two flagella
o Spins when it moves. o Colorful (pigments),Can glow in the dark. o Causes Red Tide
4. Red Algae
o Multicellular seaweeds. Live in deep ocean waters
o Used for ice cream and hair conditioner o Used as food in Asia 5. Green Algae
o Most are unicellular, Some form colonies, Few are multicellular
o Can live in fresh and salt water and on land in damp places. o Very closely related to green plants.
6. Brown algae
o Commonly called seaweed, Attach to rocks, Have air bladders
o Can contain brown, green, yellow, orange and black pigments. o Giant Kelp can be 100 meters long! o Used as food thickeners
III) Fungus like Protist
o Heterotrophs, Have cell walls.
o Many have flagella and are able to move at some point in their lives. o Three types: Slime Molds, Water & Downy Molds o Reproduce with Spores (tiny cell that is able to grow into a new organism)
Water & Downy Molds
o Live in water or moist places, Tiny threads that look like fuzz, Attack food crops o Caused the Irish Potato Famine.
Slime Mold
o Reproduce by Fruiting Bodies:
o The Fruiting Bodies contain Spores. o At first they look like amoeba, then later they look like mold. o Live on moist shady places. o Feed on bacteria and other microorganisms.
