Plant Like Protists

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Plant Like Protists
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Plant Like Protists

• Main Characteristic Chlorophyll
• Green Pigment- traps light, carries out
  photosynthesis
• Evolved from symbiosis of photosynthetic bacteria
  and larger, heterotrophic bacteria
• Commonly called Algae
• Can contain cell wall like plants
• Unicellular types discussed first
• 4 types
• Multi-cellular types
• 3 types

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Figure 28.6 Traditional hypothesis for how the
three domains of life are related
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4 Types of Unicellular Algae

• Classified by differences in structure, types of
  photosynthetic pigments
• 1. Euglena Phylum Euglenophyta
• 2. Dinoflagellates Phylum Pyrrophyta
• 3. Chrysophytes Phylum Chrysophyta
• 4. Diatoms Phylum Bacilliariophyta

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EuglenaPhylum Euglenophyta

• Closely related to Animal Like Protists
• Use flagella to move
• Do not possess cell wall, some chlorophyll!
• Can be heterotrophic if sunlight low!!!
• Are Plant Like because contain chloroplasts
• Other structures
• Eye spot senses light
• Pellicle holds flagella in place
• Gullet
• Carbohydrate storage body
• Contractile Vacuole

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Euglena Anatomy
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Dinoflagellates Phylum Pyrrophyta

• Can be autotrophic and heterotrophic
• Have 2 flagella
• Cell wall
• Luminescent Phylum Pyrrophyta means Fire
  Plants in Latin
• Parasites that Produce Neurotoxin
• Cause of Red Tide
• Pack DNA without special proteins called histones
• Only eukaryotic org. which does not use histones

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Figure 28.12x2 Swimming with bioluminescent
dinoflagellates
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(No Transcript)
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Red Tide
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Algal Bloom Before and After
9-23-1999
9-29-1999
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Dinoflagellate which causes Red Tide
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ChrysophytesPhylum Chrysophyta

• Yellow/Green and Brown/Golden Algae
• Chloroplasts contain gold colored pigment
• Unicellular or form threadlike colonies
• Contain carbohydrates Pectin or Cellulose
• Can reproduce sexually or asexually
• Store food as Oil
• not as starch like true plants

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Figure 28.18 A golden alga
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DiatomsPhylum Bacillariophyta

• Some of the most abundant orgs on earth
• Produce Silicon in outer cell wall glass like
• Patterns and rigid structures
• In death, cell walls produce Diatomaceous Earth
• Abrasive compound used in toothpaste and
  filtration systems

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Diatom Examples
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Ecology of Plant-Like Protists

• Most unicellular species beneficial
• Act as producers in the marine food chain
• Form Phytoplankton for consumer orgs. to eat
• Approx. ½ of the photosynthesis on earth!!!
• Produce large amount of oxygen
• Symbiosis Coral Reefs, Clams
• Provide food via photosynthesis, receive a home

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Ecology of Plant Like Protists Cont.

• Some have adverse effects
• Algal Blooms High levels of nutrients/wastes in
  water
• Cause rapid rise in of unicelled plant like
  protists
• Chokes environment
• RED TIDE Bloom of Dinoflagellates
• Produce neurotoxins, kills marine life

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Algal Blooms
Algal Bloom Potomac River 1979
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Ex Detergents containing Phosphorous and the
Chattahoochee River
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Eco Issues Dealing with Plant-Like Protists

• Great Barrier Reef Largest Reef Ecosystem
• Coral is an Animal that lives in Symbiosis with
  Dinoflagellates
• If water temp rises, Dinoflagellates leave coral
  Bleaches (dies)
• Global Warming(?), ocean temps are higher and
  Coral in Great Barrier Reef is bleaching
• Eco Impact loss of major marine habitat!!!

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Coral Bleaching

• Left healthy coral with symbiotic dinoflagellate
  (center)
• Right Bleached dead coral
• Problem loss of habitat, oxygen producer

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Multi cellular Plant Like Protists

• 3 Types
• More Plant like in appearance than unicellular
  algae
• Classification differences due to types of
  photosynthetic pigments
• Cause the different colors of algae

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3 Types of Multicellular Algae

• 1. Red Algae Phylum Rhodophyta
• 2. Brown Algae Phylum Phaeophyta
• 3. Green Algae Phylum Chlorophyta

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Classify by type of Chlorophyll, Pigments

• Light is made of up different wavelengths
• Different environments have different wavelengths
  of light that penetrate
• Ex Deep ocean vs. Surface
• Causes difference in algae colors

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Red Algae

• Lack Flagella
• May collect calcium carbonate in cell wall
• Rigid structure
• Can live Deep in the Ocean
• Contain Chlorophyll a Basic Chlorophyll
• Special Pigments to Harvest Light
• Phycobilins RED Pigment
• Absorb Blue Light

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Rhodophyta Mainly marine, a few species in soil
and rivers. The red pigment phycoerythrin is
unique and occurs only in this class. It allows
absorption of blue light and photosynthesis in
great water dephts. There is a unique red-algae
starch and only chlorophyll a, never b. Red algae
lack cilia
In soil and on rocks Hildenbrandia
Gelidium sp. Marine culture to produce
polysaccarid- polymers Agar
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Brown Algae

• Largest and Most Complex Multi Cell Algae
• Holdfast Anchoring Structure
• Shallow, cool waters
• Contain Chlorophyll a and c
• Contain Brown Accessory Pigment

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Phaeophyta (Stramenopila) Marine
Coastal California
Sargasso sea
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GREEN Algae

• Can be unicellular or multicellular
• Closest relation to true plants!!!
• Characteristics in common with plants
• Cellulose in Cell Walls
• Chlorophyll a and b
• Store food as Starch

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Conjugation Sexual Reproduction
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Beneficial Aspects of Algae

• Food for humans
• Food for invertebrates and fishes in mariculture
• Animal feed
• Soil fertilizers and conditioners in agriculture
• Treatment of waste water
• Diatomaceous earth ( diatoms)
• Chalk deposits
• Phycocolloids (agar, carrageenan from red algae
  alginates from brown algae)
• Drugs
• Model system for research
• Phycobiliproteins for fluorescence microscopy

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Detrimental Aspects of Algae

• Blooms of freshwater algae
• Red tides and marine blooms
• Toxins accumulated in food chains
• Damage to cave paintings, frescoes, and other
  works of art
• Fouling of ships and other submerged surfaces
• Fouling of the shells of commercially important
  bivalves