Download Protists

Protists – “Kingdom Protista” – Domain Eukarya
The word kingdom is controversial – some scientists have abandoned the kingdom protista and still use the category
protist for organisms that do not fit the kingdoms Plants, Fungi, or Animals
Algaelike – plant like




Photosynthetic
ALL contain chrlorophyll a, but some may
contain other chlorophylls and accessory
pigments
Some contain flagella
End in -phyta
1. Euglenophyta – Euglenoids - Euglena
 Unicellular
 1-3 flagella on the leading side of
the organism
 Chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids, and
xanthophylls
 Pellicles – protein strips that cover
the cell membrane and act like a cell
wall
 Can become heterotrophic when
light is scarce
 Phototaxis - Some have an eyespot
which allows them to move in
response to light
 Usually Freshwater
2. Dinoflagellata - Dinoflagellates
 Unicellular
 2 flagella – one posterior, one
perpendicular on the side
 Chlorophyll a, c, carotenoids, and
xanthophylls
 Bioluminescent
 Produce nerve toxins that
concentrate in shellfish – can harm
humans when eaten
 Marine or freshwater
3. Bacillariophyta - Diatoms
 Unicellular
 1 flagella – in sperm only
 Chlorophyll a, c, carotenoids, and
xanthophylls
 Tests – shells made of silica (SiO2)
 Marine or Freshwater
4. Chrysophyta – Golden algae
 Unicellular
 2 flagella – same side of cell
 Chlorophyll a, c, carotenoids, and
xanthophylls
 Freshwater
5. Phaeophyta – Brown algae
 Multicellular
 Flagella in sperm cells only
 Chlorophyll a, c, carotenoids, and
xanthophylls
 Giant seaweeds and kelps
 Marine
6. Rhodophyta – Red algae
 Multicellular
 Phycobilins – red accessory
pigments
 No flagella
 Chlorophyll a, carotenoids,
phycobilins, and chlorophyll d
 Mostly Marine
7. Chlorophyta – Green algae
 Unicellular or multicellular
 2 or more flagella
 Chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoids
 Cell walls with cellulose – like
plants
 Mostly freshwater
 Reproduction is diverse
o Isogamous – same size egg
and sperm
o Anisogamous – different
sized egg and sperm
o Oogamous – egg stays with
the parent and is fertilized by
sperm
 Believed to be the ancestors to
plants
Protozoa – animal like
 Heterotrophic - ingestion
 Predatory or parasitic
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Rhizopoda – Amoebas
 Unicellular
 Pseudopods – extensions of the cell that move the cell
 Phagocytosis – used for absorbing food
 Freshwater and Marine
Actinopoda – Heliozoans and Radiozoans
 Unicellular
 Found in plankton habitats
 “ray feet”
 Heliozoans – freshwater
 Radiozoans - marine
Foraminifera – Forams
 Unicellular
 Marine
 Tests – calcium carbonate
 Indicate oil deposits if found in marine sediments
Apicomplexa – Sporozoanss
 Unicellular
 No cilia or flagella
 Marine or freshwater
 Animal parasites – contribute to malaria
 Apical complex- concentration of organelles located at the end of the cell (apex)
 Produce spores which are dispersed by host organisms
Zoomastigophora – Zooflagellates
 Unicellular – form colonies
 Flagella
 Freshwater
 Parasitic
Ciliaphora - Ciliates
 Unicellular
 Freshwater
 Cilia – movement
 Specialized structures
o Mouths
o Anal pores
o Contractile vacuoles – water balance
o 2 nuclei – macronuclei and micronuclei

Paramecium
Fungus like




Heterotrophic - absorption
Form filaments or spore-bearing bodies similar to fungi
End in –omycota
“molds”
1.
Acrasiomycota - Cellular slime molds
 Act like fungus and protozoa during parts of their life cycle
 Spores germinate into amoebas which feed on bacteria
 Many amoebas group together and function as a single unit which move as a slug
 Stalks are formed which release spores like fungi
Myxomycota - Plasmodial slime molds - plasmodium
 Feed on decaying vegetation
 Stalks form to create spores when food is unavailable or the environment is dry
 Haploid spores  haploid amoebas or flagellated cells = diploid cell
Oomycota – water molds, downy mildews, and white rusts
 Parasites or saprobes
 Hyphae – filaments that secrete enzymes to digest surrounding substances for absorbtion
 Lack septa – cross walls found in true fungi
 Multinucleated
 Cell walls are made of cellulose not chitin like true fungi
2.
3.