Protists Protists are single or multi-celled organisms That live in wet environments. They have eukaryotic cells They reproduce asexually.

The biggest difference between protists is how they get food. Protists can be: 1.Animal-like (get food from outside source) 2. Plant-like (make own food) 3. Fungus-like (digest decayed material)

Animal-like Protists are known as protozoa. They live in many different places. Some are parasites, which means that they live on or in another organism. Animal-like protists are put into different groups based on how they move.

A.Rhizopods- move using pseudopods, which are arm-like extensions of their cytoplasm Ex. Amoeba

An amoeba may never have the same shape twice!

B. Flagellates - move using a whip-like tail called a flagella Ex. - Trypanosoma

Flagellates may have one or more flagella.

C. Ciliates - move by waving short, hair-like structures called cilia Ex.- Paramecium

D. Sporozoans - have no way of moving on their own, so they are parasites that live in and feed on animal blood; can be disease- causing Ex.- malaria

Plant-like Protists all make their own food using sunlight. They are green because they contain Chlorophyll. The process of making their own food is called Photosynthesis. Plant-like protists are known as algae.

Plant-like Protists are grouped by how they store food and by color. A.Euglenas - 1. Have an “eyespot” that is light sensitive 2. Can make or get food 3. Most move with flagella 4. One-celled

B.Diatoms - 1. Make own food 2. One-celled 3. Store food as oil 4. Covered by a shell

C. Dinoflagellates - 1. Move in a spinning motion 2. Store food as starch and oil 3. Live in saltwater

D. Green Algae - 1. One or many celled 2. Stores food as starch 3. Live in many environments

E. Red Algae - 1. Most are many-celled 2. Used as a “thickener” in products

F. Brown Algae - 1. Many-celled 2. People eat this

Fungus-like Protists get energy by decomposing dead or decaying materials. A.Slime molds - 1. Can move using pseudopods 2. Live in moist, shady places

B. Water molds and Mildew - Grow as a mass of threads over the organism they are feeding on