KINGDOM PROTISTA Unit 2 - Biodiversity

Kingdom Protista  Eukaryotic (all members of this Kingdom have a nucleus and organelles bound with membranes)  Most Protists are unicellular, but there are many that are multicellular  Autotrophic, Heterotrophic, and some alternate.  Cell walls may or may not be present

Major Divisons  Algae (Plant like protists)  Protozoans (Animal like protists)  Slime Molds (Fungus like protists)  Protists are thought to be the ancestors of the other 3 Eukaryotic Kingdoms (Plantae, Animalia, Fungi)

Algae – Plant Like Protists  Autotrophic  Do have cell walls  Most immobile (meaning they cannont move on their own)  Think about the stuff you would find in a dirty pool, or pond scum.

Protozoans – Animal Like Protists  Heterotrophic  NO cell walls  Most can move  Cilia (hair like)  Flagella (tail like)  Pseudopod (false foot)  Immobile ones are parasites.

Slime Molds – Fungus-like Protists  Heterotrophic decomposers  Have cell walls, but not made of chitin  Produce spores

Protists and you  Autotrophic protists primary component of phytoplankton  Carry our between % of the Earth’s photosynthesis  Phytoplankton and Zooplankton are the base of the world’s food chains.  Many cause disease  Malaria  African Sleeping Sickness  Amebic Dysentery  Cause Red-Tides  Cause algae blooms ContributionsNegative Aspects