Diversity 2.7 billion years ago, microbes invented

photosynthesisWater split to get H needed to turn CO2 into

sugars, O2 left behind

All the iron on the surface rustedOxygen accumulated

Organisms adapted to new worldThey could get bigger; more efficient

metabolism

Eukaryotes

Bigger, more complicated cells than prokaryotes

Multicellular organisms developed Four kingdoms of eukaryotes currently

recognized.

Fungi, the champion decomposers Familiar terms: what do they mean exactly? Molds: types of fungi that grow as long

threads or filaments.When they reproduce, they look different.

Yeasts: another way fungi can look; oval, unicellular in appearance.Some fungi can grow as yeasts or molds.

Mushrooms: these are reproductive structures of certain types of fungi.

How do Fungi grow? Fungi are heterotrophs

They are the great decomposers, break down all kinds of polymers. Can destroy wood, rubber, paint, all types of things.

They are never photosynthetic! Fungi grow into, through their food.

They release enzymes that break things downThey take up resulting small moleculesThey grow at the tips and penetrate.

Fungi and plants Some fungi are parasites

Many plant diseases are caused by fungiFusarium, for example

Many fungi grow along with plantsMyco (fungi) rrhizae (roots) = mycorrhizaeFungi growing with plant roots help furnish the

plant with minerals from the soilPlants leak nutrients to feed fungiBoth prosper

Fungi and humans As decomposers, important in ecosystem

Industrial problems Some cause disease

Athlete’s foot, yeast infections, histoplasmosisSerious infections with diseases like AIDS

Source of important antibioticsPenicillium is a fungus

Important in food and other industriesCitric acid, soy sauce, cheeses, mushrooms

How are they classified? Once again, it’s about sex. Three main types of fungi

When two different mating types get together, they make sexual spores

The type of structure the spores are found in determines the type of fungus

Mushroom is a type of spore-bearing structure

Fungi also reproduce asexually tooThey make lots of spores this way, but not

involved in classification

Sexual reproductive structures that Fungi make

Protista: one kingdom, or 8? The Protists are unicellular eukaryotes For “pond scum” they show incredible

diversityProtists were always lumped together by what

they aren’t.New schemes suggest grouping them into 8

or more different KINGDOMS As different from each other as they are from

plants and animals.

Is there an easy way to learn about the Protists?

Here’s one. Divide them into 3 groups:Plant-likeAnimal-likeFungus-like

Plant-like Protists Contain chloroplasts Representatives

Diatoms (right). Diatomaceous earth = fossilized

diatoms: abrasives and slug repellants.

Red, brown, yellow algae Seaweed, source of agar

Dinoflagellates Neurotoxins and red tide

http://www.bhikku.net/archives/03/img/diatoms.JPG

www.enviroliteracy.org/ article.php/534.html

Animal-like protists Capable of ingesting their food. Capable of moving around

AmoebasProtozoa with flagella or cilia

Disease-causing protists belong to this groupDiarrhea, malaria, STD

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slime_mold

http://ar.geocities.com/seti_argentina/estamos_solos/ameba.jpg

Fungus-like Water molds

Motile by flagella (fungi aren’t.)Phytophora infestans, cause of

Irish potato blight Slime molds

“the blob”, one giant cell or groups of cells that crawl over the ground

Digest everything in their path

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slime_mold

res2.agr.ca/lethbridge/ emia/SEMproj/phyinf_f.htm

The Kingdom Plantae

Plants are highly successful Photosynthetic, use sunlight energy and

carbon dioxideAlso need minerals to grow

The world of Plants The most abundant and successful type of

plant are flowering plants, the Angiosperms. There’s actually 9 other completely different

types of plants.MossesFernsCycadsConifers (most evergreens w/ needles)6 others

Examples: most primitive to most advanced

Mosses Have no roots No seeds

Ferns Produce spores, not

seeds

Gymnosperms Naked seeds, in cones

Angiosperms Flowers and seeds

Pictures cited

http://www.mpm.edu/collect/fern-6.gif

www.maxwaugh.com/ arb02/moss.html

http://www.huntergardens.org.au/images/conifer1.jpg

www.sbs.utexas.edu

What have angiosperms got that makes them good? Specialized structures for pulling water out

of dry ground: roots Specialized structures for exchanging

gases with the atmosphere and collecting sunlight: leaves

Structures for holding the leaves up where they can do these things: shoots

FlowersAttract pollinators that spread male gametes

(pollen, from anthers) to female gametes (inside ovaries)

Provide a protective place for embryo (within seeds) to form.

Seeds are within or attached to fruit. Fruit is a mechanism for dispersal of seedSome is eaten and excreted elsewhereSome sticks and is carried aboutSome blow, some float, many strategies