Fungus Like Protists

Fungus Like Protists All produce spores. Most move by using psuedopods. All are consumers. Decompose organic material.

Importance of Fungus Like Protists Help break down dead organisms. Cause diseases in platns and animals. Ex. Water molds can cause disease in fish, worms, diatoms, and other aquatic organisms. Downy mildews caused the Irish potato famine during the 1840’s and wiped out grapes in the French wine industry in th 1870’s.

Fungus Like Protists Divided into three phyla: Plasmoidial slime molds Phylum Myxomycota Cellular slime molds Phylum Acrasiomycota Water molds and downy mildews Phylum Oomycota

Slime Molds Live in cool, moist, shady places. Grow on damp, organic matter, such as rotting leaves or decaying tree stumps. Beautifully colored.

Slime Molds Animal-like during much of their life cycle. Move using psuedopods. Make spores to reproduce. 2 major types: Plasmoidial slime molds Cellular slime molds

Plasmoidial Slime Molds Form a mass of cytoplasm with many nuclei called a plasmodium. The plasmodium is the feeding stage of the slime mold and moves slowly across the surface of its food. A plasmodium may reach more than a meter in diameter.

Plasmoidial Slime Molds Reproduce sexually by producing many separate spore-producing stalks.

Cellular Slime Molds Spend part of their life cycle as an independent amoeboid cell that feeds, grows, and divides by cell division. When food becomes scarce, these cells form a mass in order to reproduce.

Water Molds and Downy Mildews Most live in water or moist places. Some feed on dead organisms and some are plant parasites. Digest their food outside of the cell and then absorb the nutrients. Produce spores that have flagella.

Water Molds and Downy Mildews Some are parasites of plants. Some feed on dead organisms. Grow a mass of threads over their food source, digest it, and then absorb the nutrients. Most look like fuzzy white growths that cover an organism. Produce flagellated reproductive cells.

Water Molds and Downy Mildews Parasite of plants. Like to live in areas with warm days and cool, moist nights.