Biology

Protists

 

The Kingdom Protista contains the protozoa, algae, slime molds, and water molds. All of these organisms are eukaryotic and lack tissue differentiation.

The Protozoa

These single-celled microorganisms are noted for their ability to move independently. Protozoans live in environments that vary from soil to the bodies of other organisms. Many species make up

zooplankton, one of the primary sources of energy in aquatic ecosystems.

A freshwater pond contains some of the most diverse microscopic life on Earth.

 

Phylum Sporozoa

Interpendence of Organisms
Plasmodium is a sporocite whose lifecycle involves the Anaphalese mosquito, the human liver, and human blood. This cycle causes the disease known as malaria.

 

 

These plant-like protists all carry on photosynthesis. Although most algae are single-cell organisms, some are large multicellular organisms. The largest algae are the seaweeds known as kelp that are hundreds of feet long. All algae, no matter their size, lack tissue differentiation.

Most aquatic algae compose the phytoplankton, the foundation of aquatic food chains. Phytoplankton produces almost half the world's carbohydrates and oxygen.

 

The phyla of algae:

* Chlorophyta - the green algae

* Phaeophyta - the brown algae

* Rhodophyta - the red algae

* Bacillariophyta - the diatoms

* Dinoflagellata - the dinoflagellates

* Chrysophyta - the golden algae

* Euglenophyta - the euglenoids

 

The Slime Molds

These heterotrophic organisms spend a part of their lives in a mobile, amoeba-like form. They produce a reproductive structure that makes them look like a fungus. They appear as a glistening, viscous mass of slime. Most are yellow or red, but some are white.

The phyla of slime molds:

* Acrasiomycota - pseudopasmodium
* Myxomycota - plasmodium

The Water Molds

Fungus-like organisms composed of branching filaments of cells. While most water molds are aquatic, some live in the soil, and others are plant parasites.

The phyla of water molds:

* Oomycota - plant parasites responsible for blight.
* Chytridiomycota - aquatic protists very similar to fungi.

The body structure, reproduction, and biochemical pathways cause biologists to think that chytrids are a link between protists and fungi.

 

Review questions: read the READING ASSIGNMENT, then answer the following questions in a word document.

Do not copy the questions, your answer MUST be in complete sentences and reflect the question.

For multiple choice questions, Put the letter of the answer only.

Head your word document:

Unit 11 Day 3 Protist

Include your name, hour, date and class in your document.

 

1. Choose either a species of protozoa or algae. Find a quality website with information about the organism.

2. Tell your science facilitator the name as soon as you have chosen.
Important: a species can be used by only one person. This is on a first come, first served basis. The first person to give the name to the science facilitator gets the organism.

3. Write a one paragraph summary of the information about this organism and write the URL for the website on your paper.

4. Tomorrow in class, you will use your summary to tell the class about the organism. Be sure to include something interesting about the organism.

Your science facilitator will grade your oral presentation using the criteria marked with a red checkmark on this science presentation grade rubric.

Give the paragraph to your science facilitator after your presentation.