Classifying Living ThingsKingdomsMrs. HornScience 2014-2015

Protist • An organism that may have characteristics of

fungi, plants, and animals• Some have more than one cell, but MOST have

only one cell• Have a nucleus

Animal-like Protist• Protozoa are animal-like protist• Example: amoebas• Can NOT make their own food; get food from their

surroundings• Move through their environment by slipping and

sliding; others move using cilia or flagella• Live wherever there is water; can also be found in

moist soil and inside organisms

Plant-like Protist• Example: algae • Use energy from the sun to make their own food• Make oxygen• Some plant-like protist are microscopic and some

are very large

Fungus-like• Example: slime mold• Have characteristics of fungi• Get their food from their surroundings• Some reproduce through spores• Some are mobile but move very slow• Have a big effect on animals and humans (they

attack vegetable and fruit crops and animals)

Fungi Kingdom• Small, single-celled organisms or can grow to very

large masses• Have a nucleus• Cell walls are made of the same substance as the

shells of insects• Do not make OR eat food• Absorb nutrients from their environment• Decompose, or breakdown, the tissues of other

organisms• Reproduce through spores• Example: mushrooms

Bacteria • Small, single-celled organisms• Do not have a nucleus• Microscopic• More bacteria than any other living thing• They live everywhere!• Some are helpful (in your stomach- help you

digest food); others are harmful (strep throat)• Separated into 2 kingdoms: archaebacteria &

eubacteria

Acrhaebacteria Kingdom• “ancient” bacteria• Have lived on Earth longer than any other

organism• Live under conditions that would kill other living

things• Can live where there is no oxygen and in areas

where there is extreme heat

Eubacteria Kingdom• Most bacteria fall into this kingdom• Get food in a variety of ways (Some use energy

from the sun & others get food from eating living and non-living things)

Plant Kingdom• Multi-celled organisms with tissues and organs• Cells have cell walls & chloroplasts• Plant cells make their own food• Need water to survive• Scientists classify plants into two main phylum

(groups): vascular & nonvascular

Vascular Plants• Have tissues that act like tubes • These tube-like structures transport water and

nutrients from the soil • Vascular plants do NOT have to live near water• Vascular plants can grow very tall• Example: Fern (Ferns reproduce through spores.)

Nonvascular Plants• Absorb water• Water is passed slowly from cell to cell• Do NOT have tissues to transport water & must

live close to a water source • Do not grow very tall; many reach only a few

inches tall• Example: Moss