Kingdom Protista NotesKingdom Protista Notes

A.  A.  ProtistProtist—eukaryotic —eukaryotic one-or many-celled one-or many-celled organism which lives organism which lives in a moist or wet in a moist or wet environment; environment;

some are plant-like and some are plant-like and contain chlorophyll contain chlorophyll while others are while others are animal-like and can animal-like and can move.move.

1. Protists are difficult 1. Protists are difficult to to classifyclassify the are the are usually grouped based usually grouped based on characteristics on characteristics shared with plants, shared with plants, animals, or animals, or fungifungi

2. The 2. The evolutionevolution of of protists is studied protists is studied through fossils and through fossils and genetic material.genetic material.

B.  B.  PlantlikePlantlike protists are called protists are called algae and they all contain algae and they all contain chlorophyll to make food.chlorophyll to make food.

1. 1. DiatomsDiatoms, found in , found in fresh and salt water, fresh and salt water, make glasslike boxes make glasslike boxes which can form fossils.which can form fossils.

2. 2. DinoflagellatesDinoflagellates use use flagella (singular flagella (singular flagellum), flagellum), long, thin, long, thin, whiplike structures to whiplike structures to move in their saltwater move in their saltwater environmentenvironment

3. 3. EuglenoidsEuglenoids have have characteristics characteristics of both plants of both plants and animals.and animals.

a.  When a.  When lightlight is is present, they can present, they can make their own food; make their own food; an eyespot helps them an eyespot helps them move toward lightmove toward light

b.  b.  In the absence In the absence of light, they can of light, they can eat eat bacteriabacteria or or other protistsother protists

4. 4. Red algaeRed algae, also called , also called seaweeds, are usually seaweeds, are usually many-celled, can live at many-celled, can live at depths of 175 m, and depths of 175 m, and contain chlorophyll and contain chlorophyll and large amounts of red large amounts of red pigment.pigment.

5. 5. Green algaeGreen algae contain contain large amounts of large amounts of chlorophyll and can be chlorophyll and can be one-celled or many-one-celled or many-celled; some scientists celled; some scientists hypothesize that plants hypothesize that plants evolved from green algae.evolved from green algae.

6. A many-celled, 6. A many-celled, saltwater form of saltwater form of brown algaebrown algae called called kelp is an important kelp is an important source of food and source of food and shelter for aquatic shelter for aquatic organisms.organisms.

C.  C.  Algae, source of Algae, source of food for ocean food for ocean organisms are called organisms are called the grasses of the the grasses of the oceanocean..

  1. 1. Algae have an Algae have an environmentalenvironmental impact. impact.

a.  Algae produce a.  Algae produce oxygen through oxygen through photosynthesisphotosynthesis..

b.  A result of b.  A result of imbalances, an algae imbalances, an algae bloombloom can cause can cause environmental environmental problems. problems.

2. Some people eat 2. Some people eat algae; algae are used algae; algae are used in many cosmetic and in many cosmetic and food products.food products.

D.   One-celled animal D.   One-celled animal protists called protists called protozoansprotozoans,, are are classified by to how they classified by to how they move.move.

  

1. 1. CiliatesCiliates—threadlike —threadlike structures called structures called ciliacilia extend from their cell extend from their cell membranesmembranes

  a.  A a.  A Paramecium Paramecium has has two two nucleinuclei;;

b.  Ciliates usually eat b.  Ciliates usually eat bacteriabacteria..

2. 2. FlagellatesFlagellates move move by whipping their long by whipping their long flagella.flagella.

      a.  Many flagellates a.  Many flagellates live in live in freshwaterfreshwater, but , but some are parasites.some are parasites.

3. Some protozoans move 3. Some protozoans move and eat using, “false feet” and eat using, “false feet” pseudopodspseudopods, , temporary temporary extensions of extensions of their cytoplasm.their cytoplasm.

a.  An a.  An amoebaamoeba traps its traps its food with its food with its pseudopods.pseudopods.

   

      4. 4. One group of One group of protozoans has no way protozoans has no way to to movemove on its own. on its own.

        a.  These protozoans a.  These protozoans are are parasitesparasites in humans in humans and other animals.and other animals.

b.  Their b.  Their complexcomplex life life cycle may have them cycle may have them living a part of their life living a part of their life in one animal and in one animal and another part in a another part in a different animal different animal

E.    Protozoans are E.    Protozoans are important important foodfood sources sources for many animals.for many animals.

          1. Shelled 1. Shelled protozoans become a protozoans become a part of part of sedimentsediment layers; layers;

geologists can use them geologists can use them as an indicator species to as an indicator species to help locate help locate petroleumpetroleum reserves.reserves.

      2. Some parasites can 2. Some parasites can cause cause diseasesdiseases in in humans humans

F.    Funguslike protists F.    Funguslike protists produce produce sporesspores and and must consume food; must consume food; many can movemany can move

using pseudopods like using pseudopods like the amoebathe amoeba

  

    1. 1. Slime moldsSlime molds are often are often found on decaying found on decaying vegetation in moist, cool, vegetation in moist, cool, areas.areas.

      2. 2. WaterWater molds live in molds live in wet places; downy wet places; downy mildews can weaken or mildews can weaken or kill plantskill plants