Protista Kingdoms

The Big Picture Kingdom Protista –Animal-like Protists –Plant-like Protists –Fungus-like Protists

Kingdom Protista All are Eukaryotic Any organism that is not a member of the other kingdoms (the junk drawer) Classified based on how they obtain nutrition –Animal-like Protists are heterotrophic. –Plant-like Protists are photoautotrophic. –Fungus-like Protists are decomposers or parasites.

I. Animal-Like Protists 4 Phyla classified by movement: 1) Zooflagellates : - swim using 1 or 2 flagella - reproduce asexually by binary fission and can absorb nutrients through cell membrane 2) Sarcodines: - use pseudopodia (false feet) for movement and have food vacuoles for storage - examples: Amoeba, Foraminiferans (CaCO 3 shells, White Cliffs of Dover), Heliozoans (silica shells look like sun’s rays)

I. Animal-Like Protists 3) Ciliates: - unicellular & use cilia to move and feed - usually reproduce asexually but can use conjugation (sexual reproduction) - have complex organelles including: macronuclei (holds “day-to-day” genes) micronuclei (holds all genes) important for reproduction contractile vacuoles (gets rid of excess water) anal pores (region where waste is excreted) gullets (depressed regions where food gathers) - example: Paramecium 4) Sporozoans: - sessile (do not move) - parasites

What do Animal-Like Protists Do? Trichonympha lives in termite digestive systems allowing them to digest cellulose in wood (What kind of ecological relationship is this?) Animal-Like Protists can Cause Diseases like: –African Sleeping Sickness (Trypanosoma)- fly born –Malaria (Plasmodium)- mosquito born ( in to 311 million cases. 708k- >1 mil people died) –Amoebic Dysentery (Entamoeba) –Giardia in water can cause digestive problems if water is not boiled or iodized.

II. Plant-Like Protists 7 types (unicellular types in red): 1) Euglenophytes – 2 flagella, no cell wall 2) Dinoflagellates – ½ photosynthetic, ½ heterotrophic 3) Chrysophytes – gold-colored chloroplasts 4) Diatoms – beautiful, silicon-rich cell walls 5) Red Algae – can live deep in ocean due to phycobilins (pigments) 6) Brown Algae – largest, most complex algae containing fucoxanthin (brown pigment) 7) Green Algae – have same pigments and cell wall composition as plants; can be colonial, uni-, or multicellular

II. Plant-Like Protists Euglenophytes: –Live in freshwater –unicellular –2 flagella –no cell wall –Can be photosynthetic OR heterotrophic

II. Plant-Like Protists Dinoflagellates –2 flagella –Spin through the water like a top –Protective coat made of cellulose and silica –Some produce toxins and cause “red tide” in coastal areas.

Red tide- algae in bloom Can affect humans- if contaminated shell fish is consumed

II. Plant-Like Protists Chrysophytes : –Golden algae –Large amounts of carotenoids –Store energy as oil –Are important in the formation of petroleum deposits

II. Plant-Like Protists Diatoms: –Both fresh- and saltwater –Cell walls (shells) made of 2 silicon pieces that fit together like a box with a lid –When they die, their cell walls sink and accumulate, creating diatomaceous earth (abrasive used for toothpaste, detergents, insulation, dynamite, filters, etc)

II. Plant-Like Protists Red Algae (Rhodophyta): –Most are salt-water species –Smaller than brown algae –Contain phycobilins, pigments that can absorb wavelengths of light deep in the water –Some are coated with carageenan, a sticky coating used for cosmetics, gelatin capsules, and some cheeses –Porphyra, or nori, is used in sushi rolls.

II. Plant-Like Protists Brown Algae (Phaeophyta): –Mostly marine –Contain fucoxanthin, a pigment giving it its brown color –Multicellular and large (often > 45 m) –Example: Kelp grows along coasts, produce underwater “forests,” and are among the largest organisms on Earth. –Brown Algae can be used as a thickener in foods like ice cream or pudding.

II. Plant-Like Protists Green Algae (Chlorophyta): –Can be freshwater or marine –Have same pigments as plants –Major component of marine plankton –Thought to be ancestors of the plant kingdom.

What are Plant-Like Protists Used For? Algae is the “grass” of the sea for many animals. Photosynthesis: about ½ of all photosynthesis is done by algae

III. Fungus-Like Protists Heterotrophs that decompose dead/decaying organic matter. Unlike fungi, they have centrioles and lack chitin in their cell walls. Slime Molds and Water Molds

III. Fungus-Like Protists Slime Mold –Cellular Slime Molds: individual cells remain distinct throughout life Single cells migrate to one uniform colony Colony produces a fruiting body with spores –Plasmodial Slime Molds (Acellular) Single-celled with many nuclei (can be several meters long) Produces sporangia which release spores

III. Fungus-Like Protists Water Molds White, fuzzy organisms that grow on dead organic matter in water and are plant parasites The Water Mold Phytophthora infestans caused the Irish Potato Famine of –Potatoes were a major food crop in Ireland since being introduced from South America. –This water mold destroyed entire potato crops, ultimately causing more than 400,000 people to starve. –Many Irish migrated to America after this event.