Kingdom Protista Domain: Eukarya

General characteristics All protists are EUKARYOTES They can’t be classified as animals, plants or fungi Most are unicellular (ONE CELL) All protists live in moist environment 3 major groups: Animal-like protists Plant-like protists Fungus-like protists

Animal-like protists A.K.A. “protozoans” Heterotrophs Unicellular Move to get food Move by PSEUDOPODS (Amoeba) – extensions of cell membrane and cytoplasm Move by FLAGELLA (Giardia) – longer than cilia (one or just a few) Move by CILIA (Paramecium) – many short hair-like structures Amoeba Paramecium Giardia

Plant-like protists A.K.A “algae” or “phytoplankton” Autotrophs Most are unicellular They use pigment to capture light and make their own food (AUTOTROPH) Some can move using flagella Live in upper layers of water bodies (need sunlight) Good food source for other aquatic organisms Produce a majority of Earth’s oxygen

Fungus-like protists Heterotrophs Slime mold Fungus-like protists Heterotrophs decomposers: feed on dead/decaying organisms) They have a cell wall made of chitin (type of sugar) Reproduce by spores Can move at some point in their life cycle Slime molds Water molds Downy mildews Water Mold

Reproduction Asexual (many protists) Sexual (example: Paramecium) Binary fission: single cell divides into 2 identical cells Multiple fission: single cell divides into 3 or more identical cells Protists that are parasites have complex reproduction cycles (some stages in one host, then a second stage in a vertebrate host) Conjugation: 2 individuals join and exchange genetic material by swapping their small nucleus, then each divide producing 4 new individuals Examples of parasitic protists: Plasmodium vivax (malaria) Giardia sp.

Nutrition Feed on other organisms MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD! BOTH Heterotroph Autotroph Mixotroph Heterotroph Animal-like Fungus-like Autotroph Plant-like Mixotroph Some fungus-like Some plant-like MAKE THEIR OWN FOOD! Photosynthesis BOTH (depends on conditions)

FUNGI KINGDOM

General Information Soil dwelling decomposer mostly Resemble plants, but are more closely related to animals Heterotrophs (absorption of food from environment) Cell wall made of chitin (same as Arthropods) Most Fungi have symbiotic relationships with plant roots (mycorrhizae) lichens and algae Increase surface area for water uptake

Body Structure Hyphae: tubular filaments Intertwined to form a Mycelium (extend above and below ground) Fungi can grow very fast – they just need moisture

Ecological Impact Decomposers: recycle nutrients back to environment Plant pathogens (disease): wheat rust, corn smut, Dutch Elm disease Human pathogens (disease): ringworm, athletes foot, jock itch, yeast infections, dandruff Some are used as medicine Some are used as food