Kingdom Protista The Unicellular Eukaryotes Protista Eukaryotic Usually

Kingdom: Protista The Unicellular Eukaryotes

Protista • Eukaryotic • Usually unicellular (One group of multicellular protista – the red, green and brown algae) • It is not a fungus, plant or animal • Video – The Protists - Biology

The Groups of Unicellular Protists Group Animal-like Protists (Protozoans) Fungus-like Protists Plant-like Protists Examples Amoebas, Ciliates, flagellates Slime Moulds, water moulds Eugleniods, diatoms and dinoflagellates Distinguishing characteristics • They consume other organisms for food. • Some species are parasites. • Heterotrophs • They absorb nutrients from other organisms, living or dead. • Some consume other organisms, some are parasites. • Saprotrophs (heterotrophs) • They can make their own food using photosynthesis. • Some consume other organisms when light is unavailable. • Some live as symbionts with other organisms. • Autotrophs (Heterotrophs)

Animal-like Protozoa Video – Flagella and Ciliated Protozoa

Animal –like Protists • Ciliates – these are covered in Cilia (short hairlike projections that coordinate together to assist with cell movement) • Some are free-moving ex. Paramecium and some are parasites (Balantidium coli – lives in the human gut and causes diarrhea). • Flagellates – have 1 or more Flagella (long whip like projection that propels the cell) • Some live in a mutualistic relationship with their host (Trichonympha – lives in the gut of termite and digests cellulose)

Fungus-like Protist – Slime mould Video – John Bonner’s Slime Mould

Fungus –like Protists • Special Heterotrophs – they absorb nutrients from living or dead organisms and from waste. (saprotrophs) • Three groups: – Plasmodial slime – tiny slug like organism that creep over damp decaying plant matter. – Cellular slime – individual cells that feed by eating bacteria. – Water mould – filimentous organisms that live on dead organic matter, or as a parasite on fish, insects and water plants.

Plant –like Protists - Diatoms Video – Plant Protists Biology

Plant-like Protists • Can carry out photosynthesis. • Most have chlorophyll – have a green colour. • Three groups: – Diatoms – (Phytoplankton) single celled- free floating aquatic organisms. Food for larger marine organisms. – Dinoflagellates – (Phytoplankton) single celled, has 2 flagella, can create red tide. (deadly toxic poison) – Euglenoids – Shallow fresh water, autotrophs in sunlight and heterotrophs in the dark.