The “Catch All” Kingdom! Protista Kingdom The “Catch All” Kingdom!

Protista Characteristics Eukaryotic Organisms that are not members of the Plantae, Animalia, or Fungi kingdoms Most of them are unicellular but some are multicellular Cell walls with cellulose in some Some have chloroplasts Autotrophs or heterotrophs Amoeba, Giant Kelp, Euglena

Protista Comes from the Greek words meaning “the very first” Protists were the first eukaryotic organisms on Earth They are believed to appear 1.5 billion years ago Hypothesized from Lynn Margulis that they evolved from a symbiosis of several cells.

Classification of Protists Incredibly diverse Different groups of protists that are an artificial way to organize a diverse group The groups are based on the way food is obtained, not the evolutionary history

Animallike Protists: Protozoans “First animals” Heterotrophs Four phyla are based on movement means Zooflagellates swim with flagella Sarcodines move by extensions of their cytoplasm called pseudopods Ciliates move by cilia Sporozoans do not move at all on their own

Diseases Zooflagellates of the genus Trypanosoma cause African sleeping sickness The tsetse fly is the method of spreading the infection from person to person Damage to blood cells and tissue infection occurs Fatal sleep results

Diseases Entamoeba is a parasite that causes amebic dysentery in areas with poor sanitation It lives in the intestines, absorbs food, and causes severe bleeding in the host Passed out in the feces and make their way to water

Diseases Dysentery can occur even in clear streams Caused by the pathogen, Giardia Causes diarrhea and digestive problems Don’t drink water that isn’t clean Don’t eat without washing hands after using the restroom

Diseases Malaria

Paramecium

Amoeba

Plantlike Protists Contain green pigments, chlorophyl and photosynthesize Commonly called “algae” 4 unicellular phyla Euglenophytes-two flagella, no cell wall Chrysophytes-gold color chloroplasts Diatoms-produce silicon in their cell walls (glass) Dinoflagellates-half photosynthesize, half consumers

Plantlike Protists 3 multicelluar phyla Red algae-able to live deep in water due to efficiency in harvesting light energy (phycobilins and chlorophyll a) Brown algae-chlorophyll a and c and fucoxanthin) Green algae-similar to plants pigments and cell wall The biggest difference is their photosynthetic pigments

Ecology of Unicellular Algae Plantlike protists play a major ecological role on Earth What would happen if they disappeared?

Algal Blooms And The Water Turns to Blood Protists grow rapidly when sewage is discharged They recycle sewage and waste material When waste is excessive, euglenophytes and other algae “bloom” This can rob water of oxygen, choke fish and invertebrates

Great Blooms Red Tides can be dangerous if shellfish is ingested by humans and contaminated May result in illness, paralysis, and death in humans and fish

How can humans help prevent these tides?

Euglenas

Dinoflagellate

Reproduction of Green Algae The life cycles of many algae include both a diploid and haploid generation called the alteration of generations

Uses of Algae Major food source for life in the oceans Base of the food chain Kelp provides shelter for many species Provides half of the world’s oxygen Vitamin C and Iron Source Helps treat ulcers, high blood pressure, arthritis Food source (ice cream, pudding, salad dressing, syrup, candy, eggnog) Chemicals (plastics, paints, waxes, deodorants) Agar

Funguslike Protists Heterotrophs that absorb nutrients from dead or decaying organic matter Centrioles Lack chitin cell walls of true fungi

Ecology of Funguslike Protists Slime molds and water molds are important recyclers of organic material, help the rotting process Also cause diseases of plants The Great Potato Famine—conditions?

Quick Assessment Animallike protists that swim use . They are referred to as . Sarcodines use to move and feed. Ciliophora use to move and feed. Euglenophytes are plantlike protists that have flagella. Diatoms contain in their cell wall. Red algae can live .

Assessment Continued 9. Thelife cycles of most algae include both a diploid and haploid generation called . 10. Funguslike protists get their nutrients from .