Kingdom Protista

Protists are a diverse group All are eukaryotes (have a nucleus) Animal-like protists (Protozoans) Plant-like protists (Algae) Fungus-like protists (slime molds, water molds)

Animal-like Protists Eat other organisms Classified by movement: Ciliates move using small hairs called cilia Flagellates move using 1 or 2 whip-like tails called flagella Sarcodines move with pseudopodia Sporozoans do not move, they are parasites

Ciliates Paramecia move using tiny waving hairs to glide through the water

Flagellates Some flagellates are animal-like because they move and eat other things, but they can also photosynthesize like a plant!

Sarcodines Amoeba move by cytoplasmic streaming (like the Blob!). The projections that are formed are called pseudopodia.

Sporozoans Malaria is caused by a sporozoan that is spread by mosquito bites.

Plant-like Protists Algae are able to photosynthesize Classified by color and whether they are single celled or multi-cellular. They are much simpler than true plants.

Fungus-like Protists Slime molds have dual lives! Slime molds start their life cycle like animal-like protists Later they stop moving, form a fruiting body (similar to a mushroom), and make spores

Protists are important Slime molds act as decomposers to recycle nutrients from dead plants and animals or animal waste. Algae are the major photosynthesizers on our planet, producing more food and oxygen than the true plants Protists form the beginning of most food chains Some are important disease pathogens of plants and animals.