General characteristics of Protista

1
General characteristics of Protista

• Eukaryotic
• Most are unicellular
• Most are aquatic
• Varied mode of nutrition
• Reproduce sexually and asexually
• Nuclei divide by mitosis and meiosis
• Varied means of locomotion

2
Evolution

• Believed to arose 1.5BYA
• Probably a result of endosymbiosis
• Most likely a zoomastigophora
• As they diversified the gave rise to the
  ancestors of the kingdoms Fungi, Plantae, and
  Animalia

3
Ecological significance

• Basis of the aquatic food chain
• Produce massive amounts of oxygen

4
Algae-like Protist

• Characteristics photosynthetic,lacking a
  cuticle and form gametes from a single cell (lack
  multicellular gametangia)
• Euglenophyta flagellated, lack a cell wall but
  have a flexible pellicle around membrane some
  contain an eyespot to allow for phototaxis
  (respond to light)
• Dinoflagellata 2 flagella one wraps around the
  middle like a belt causing it to swim like a
  spinning top. Part of marine plankton. Some are
  bioluminescent, other in mass can cause red tides

5

• Chrysophyta golden algae
• Bacillariophyta Diatoms that have two shells
  called tests consisting of silica
• Chlorophyta green algae, contain cell walls and
  are believed to have given rise to land plants
  have 3 types of sexual reproductive methods as
  well as asexual
• Phaeophyta Brown algae that are multicellular
  and contain giant seaweeds and kelp
• Rhodophyta red algae contain a red pigment
  known as phycoerythrin and are used as a base for
  food and make-up

6
Animal-like Protist

• Characteristics heterotrophic
• Rhizopoda amoeba that have pseupods (false feet
  used to move and capture food)
• Forminifera Marine organisms with elaborate
  tests made of calcium carbonate what made the
  White Cliffs of Dover and are an indication of
  oil deposits also and index fossil

7

• Zoomastigophora zooflagellates ex live in guts
  of termites and can cause African Sleeping
  Sickness (Trypanosomes)
• Sporozoa Parasitic cause malaria, plasmodium
• Ciliaphora move through beating cilia, micro
  and macro nuclei in each cell Paramecium

8
Fungi-like Protist

• Characteristics saprobric and either filaments
  or spore forming
• Dictyostelium (Acraiomycota) cellular slime
  molds
• Myxomycota plasmodial slime molds in dry
  conditons they dry up and stalks bear spore
  capsules that release haploid spores that fuse to
  make diploid
• Oomycota water molds contain mycelium like
  fungi that grow over organic material and digest
  it

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Protist note quiz Name_______________________
_____

• 1) Amoebas that use pseudopods to move and digest
  food?_________________________
• 2) Water molds contain mycelium like fungi that
  grow over organic material and digest
  it____________________
• 3) Green algae, contain cell walls and are
  believed to have given rise
• to land plants have 3 types of sexual
  reproductive methods as well as asexual?
  __________________________
• 4) Marine organisms with elaborate tests made of
  calcium carbonate what made
• the White Cliffs of Dover and are an indication
  of oil deposits also and index fossil?____________
  _____________
• 5) Brown algae that are multicellular and contain
  giant seaweeds and kelp?__________________________
  _____
• 6) Diatoms that have two shells called tests
  consisting of silica?_____________________________
  ___________
• 7) Parasitic cause malaria, plasmodium?
  __________________________________________________
  _______
• Protist note quiz Name_______________________
  _____
• 1) Amoebas that use pseudopods to move and digest
  food?_________________________
• 2) Water molds contain mycelium like fungi that
  grow over organic material and digest
  it____________________
• 3) Green algae, contain cell walls and are
  believed to have given rise
• to land plants have 3 types of sexual
  reproductive methods as well as asexual?
  __________________________
• 4) Marine organisms with elaborate tests made of
  calcium carbonate what made