THE “CATCH ALL” KINGDOM!

Protista Kingdom

Protista Characteristics

Eukaryotic Organisms that are not members of the Plantae, Animalia, or Fungi kingdoms

Most of them are unicellular but some are multicellular

Cell walls with cellulose in some Some have chloroplasts Autotrophs or heterotrophs Amoeba, Giant Kelp, Euglena

Protista

Comes from the Greek words meaning “the very first”

Protists were the first eukaryotic organisms on Earth

They are believed to appear 1.5 billion years ago

Hypothesized from Lynn Margulis that they evolved from a symbiosis of several cells.

Classification of Protists

Incredibly diverse Different groups of protists that are an

artificial way to organize a diverse group The groups are based on the way food is

obtained, not the evolutionary history

Animallike Protists: Protozoans

“First animals” Heterotrophs Four phyla are based on movement means Zooflagellates swim with flagella Sarcodines move by extensions of their

cytoplasm called pseudopods Ciliates move by cilia Sporozoans do not move at all on their own

Diseases

Zooflagellates of the genus Trypanosoma cause African sleeping sickness

The tsetse fly is the method of spreading the infection from person to person

Damage to blood cells and tissue infection occurs

Fatal sleep results

Diseases

Entamoeba is a parasite that causesamebic dysentery in areas with poor sanitation It lives in the intestines, absorbs food, and

causes severe bleeding in the host Passed out in the feces and make their way to

water

Diseases

Dysentery can occur even in clear streams Caused by the pathogen, Giardia Causes diarrhea and digestive problems Don’t drink water that isn’t clean Don’t eat without

washing hands after using the restroom

Diseases

Malaria

Paramecium

Amoeba

Plantlike Protists

Contain green pigments, chlorophyl and photosynthesize

Commonly called “algae” 4 unicellular phyla

Euglenophytes-two flagella, no cell wall Chrysophytes-gold color chloroplasts Diatoms-produce silicon in their cell walls (glass) Dinoflagellates-half photosynthesize, half

consumers

Plantlike Protists

3 multicelluar phyla Red algae-able to live deep in water due to

efficiency in harvesting light energy (phycobilins and chlorophyll a)

Brown algae-chlorophyll a and c and fucoxanthin) Green algae-similar to plants pigments and cell

wall The biggest difference is their photosynthetic

pigments

Ecology of Unicellular Algae

Plantlike protists play a major ecological role on Earth

What would happen if they disappeared?

Algal Blooms

And The Water Turns to Blood Protists grow rapidly when sewage is

discharged They recycle sewage and waste material When waste is excessive, euglenophytes and

other algae “bloom” This can rob water of oxygen, choke fish and

invertebrates

Great Blooms

Red Tides can be dangerous if shellfish is ingested by humans and contaminated

May result in illness, paralysis, and death in humans and fish

How can humans help prevent these tides?

Euglenas

Dinoflagellate

Reproduction of Green Algae

The life cycles of many algae include both a diploid and haploid generation called the alteration of generations

Uses of Algae Major food source for life in the oceans Base of the food chain Kelp provides shelter for many species Provides half of the world’s oxygen Vitamin C and Iron Source Helps treat ulcers, high blood pressure,

arthritis Food source (ice cream, pudding, salad

dressing, syrup, candy, eggnog) Chemicals (plastics, paints, waxes, deodorants) Agar

Funguslike Protists

Heterotrophs that absorb nutrients from dead or decaying organic matter

Centrioles Lack chitin cell walls of true fungi

Ecology of Funguslike Protists

Slime molds and water molds are important recyclers of organic material, help the rotting process

Also cause diseases of plants

The Great Potato Famine—conditions?

Quick Assessment

1. Animallike protists that swim use .2. They are referred to as .3. Sarcodines use to move and feed.4. Ciliophora use to move and feed.5. Euglenophytes are plantlike protists that

have flagella.6. Diatoms contain in their cell wall.7. Red algae can live .

Assessment Continued

9. Thelife cycles of most algae include both a diploid and haploid generation called

.10. Funguslike protists get their nutrients from

.