Protists
Protists belong to the Kingdom Protista, which include mostly unicellular organisms that do not fit into the
other kingdoms.
Characteristics of Protists
mostly unicellular, some are multicellular (algae)
can be heterotrophic or autotrophic
most live in water (though some live in moist soil or even the human body)
ALL are eukaryotic (have a nucleus)
A protist is any organism that is not a plant, animal or fungus
Protista = the very first
Classification of Protists
how they obtain nutrition
how they move
Animallike Protists - also called protozoa (means "first animal") - heterotrophs
Plantlike Protists - also called algae - autotrophs
Funguslike Protists - heterotrophs, decomposers, external digestion
. Animallike Protists: Protozoans
Four Phyla of Animallike Protists
Classified by how they move
Zooflagellates - flagella
Sarcodines - extensions of cytoplasm (pseudopodia)
Ciliates - cilia
Sporozoans - do not move
Zooflagellates
move using one or two flagella
absorb food across membrane
Sarcodines
Ameba (See Ameba Coloring Sheet)
moves using pseudopodia ( "false feet" ), which are like extensions of the cytoplasm --ameboid
movement
ingests food by surrounding and engulfing food (endocytosis) , creating a food vacuole
reproducing by binary fission (mitosis)
contractile vacuole - removes excess water
can cause amebic dysentery in humans - diarrhea and stomach upset from drinking contaminated water
Other sarcodines: Foraminferans, Heliozoans
Ciliates
Paramecium (See Paramecium Coloring Sheet)
move using cilia
has two nuclei: macronucleus, micronucleus
food is gathered through the :mouth pore, moved into a gullet, forms a food vacuole
anal pore is used for removing waste
contractile vacuole removes excess water
exhibits avoidance behavior
reproduces asexually (binary fission) or sexually (conjugation)
outer membrane -pellicle- is rigid and paramecia are always the same shape, like a shoe
Sporozoans
do not move on their own
parasitic
Malaria is a sporozoan, infects the liver and blood
Plantlike Protists: Unicellular Algae
contain chlorophyll and carry out photosynthesis
commonly called algae
four phyla: euglenophytes, chrysophytes, diatoms, dinoflagellates
accessory pigments help absorb light, give algae a variety of colors
Euglenophytes
Euglena (See Euglena Coloring Sheet )
live in water
have 2 flagella for movement
use chlorplasts for photosynthesis, but can turn into heterotrophs if they are kept in the dark
has an eyespot used for sensing light and dark
pellicle - like a cell wall, helps maintain their shapes
Plantlike Protists: Red, Brown, Green Algae
Green Algae: Phylum Chlorophyta
Unicellular green algae, Colonial (volvox), Multicellular (ulva, sea lettuce)
Spirogyra
live in water, multicellular
named after a spiral shaped chloroplast
autotrophic
Funguslike Protists
heterotrophs, decomposers
called slime molds and water molds
water molds responsible for the Irish Great Potato Famine
The Chromista are a eukaryotic supergroup, probably polyphyletic,[1][2] which may be treated as a
separate kingdom or included among the Protista. They include all algae whose chloroplasts contain
chlorophylls a and c, as well as various colorless forms that are closely related to them. These are
surrounded by four membranes, and are believed to have been acquired from some red alga.
Chromista has been defined in different ways at different times.
It has been described as consisting of three different groups:[3]
Heterokonts or stramenopiles: brown algae, diatoms, water moulds, etc.
Haptophytes
Cryptomonads
In 2010, Thomas Cavalier-Smith indicated his desire to move Alveolata, Rhizaria and Heliozoa
into Chromista.[4]
The haptophytes, classed either as the Prymnesiophyta or Haptophyta, are a phylum of algae.
Characteristics
The chloroplasts are pigmented similarly to those of the heterokonts,[3] but the structure of the
rest of the cell is different, so it may be that they are a separate line whose chloroplasts are
derived from similar endosymbionts.
The cells typically have two slightly unequal flagella, both of which are smooth, and a unique
organelle called a haptonema, which is superficially similar to a flagellum but differs in the
arrangement of microtubules and in its use. The name comes from the Greek hapsis, touch, and
nema, thread. The mitochondria have tubular cristae.
The term "Haptophyceae" is sometimes used.[1][2] This ending implies classification at a lower
level. However, although the phylogenetics of this group has become much more understood in
recent years, there remains some dispute over which taxon level is most appropriate.
The cryptomonads (or cryptophytes) are a group of algae,[1] most of which have chloroplasts. They are
common in freshwater, and also occur in marine and brackish habitats. Each cell is around 10-50 μm in
size and flattened in shape, with an anterior groove or pocket. At the edge of the pocket there are
typically two slightly unequal flagella.
Monera
The kingdom Monera included most organisms with a prokaryotic cell organization (that is, no nucleus).
For this reason, the kingdom was sometimes called Prokaryota or Prokaryotae
Kingdom Monera
1. Unicellular
2. Sometime form groups or filaments
3. Prokaryotic
4. Nutrition mainly absorbed, Sometimes photosynthetic or chemosynthetic
5. Cell wall is a polysaccuride with a polypeptide cross-links
6. Reproduction through binary fissions, some exchange genetic material
Kingdom Protista
1. Unicellular
2. Colonial
3. Some are unicellular with eukaryotic cells
4. Lack specialized tissues
5. Include both heterotrophic and autotrophic
Kingdom Plantae
1. Unicellular
2. Eukaryotic
3. Autotrophic organisms: have tissues and organs
4. Cell walls contain cellulose
5. Cloraphyll A and B present and localized in plastids
6. Food stored as starch
7. Sex organs are multicellular
