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Kingdom Protista. General Characteristics. Any organism not classified as a— plant , animal , fungus , or bacteria (prokaryote). Protists are eukaryotic having a distinct nucleus and organelles. Most protists are unicellular (one-celled) but some are multicellular.
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General Characteristics • Any organism not classified as a—plant, animal, fungus, or bacteria (prokaryote). • Protists are eukaryotic having a distinct nucleus and organelles. • Most protists are unicellular (one-celled) but some are multicellular.
4. Protists are primarily classified according to how they obtain nutrition: Animal-like—heterotrophs (eat other organisms) b. Plant-like—autotrophs They contain chloroplasts and make their own food (photosynthesis). Fungus-like— Decomposers/Heterotrophs Didinium eating Paramecium Green like plants! Water mold
Video Animal-like Protists (Protozoans) • Method of Movement: • Cilia—hair-like projections used for movement and feeding • Cytoplasmic streaming—pseudopod (false foot) extends and cytoplasm streams into it. Video
2. Paramecium: Contractile Vacuole Collects and removes excess H2O (Maintains homeostasis) Nucleus Cilia Oral Groove Used to collect food Cell Membrane
3. Amoeba: Nucleus Contractile Vacuole Pseudopod (False foot)
Importance of Animal-like Protists: a. Harmful i. Disease-causing parasites spread by insect bites 1. Malaria—Plasmodium spread by mosquito 2. African Sleeping Sickness— Trypmosoma spread by Tsetse fly
Beneficial • Recycles nutrients by breaking down dead matter • Food source—for other organisms • Mutualism—both organisms benefit • Example: Trichonympha—makes it possible for termites to eat wood. Termites do not have the enzymes to digest wood.
Plant-like Protists 1. Method of Movement: a. Flagellum—whip-like structure used for movement 2. Euglena: Eyespot For photosynthesis (light) Nucleus Flagella Video Contractile Vacuole Chloroplasts
Unicellular Algae: • Phytoplankton provides a source of nourishment for other organisms • b. Protists recycle sewage and waste materials.
Algal blooms are harmful when overgrown—deplete water of nutrients consequently killing fish. • Algal blooms called Red Tides cause illness, paralysis, and death of fish and even humans.
Multicellular Algae: • Examples--- • Red Algae • Green Algae • Brown Algae
Uses of Algae: • Algae is a good food source for life in the oceans. • Algae produces much of Earth’s oxygen through photosynthesis. • Algae is used to make sushi, ice cream, salad dressing, plastics, paint, agar.
Fungus-like Protists: • Examples— • Slime molds • Water molds
Importance of Fungus-like Protists: • Beneficial— • Recycles dead organic material. Results in rich, topsoil providing nutrients for plants.
Harmful— • P. Infestans(water mold) caused Great Potato Famine in Ireland. This lead to the mass starvation of 1 million Irish people.