Kingdom: Protista

Kingdom: Protista

Protists are unicellular organisms that have a nucleus.

Similar to Bacteria

• Unicellular• One of the first groups of living things on Earth.

(1.5 billion years ago.)• Microscopic• Can cause disease.• Can be parasites

Difference from Bacteria

• Has a nucleus.

• Live in watery environment.

• Generally live as individual cells.

• Protists vary greatly in appearance and function.

3 Categories

• I. Animal-like Protists.

• II. Plant-like Protists.

• III. Fungus-like Protists.

I. Animal-like Protists

• Protozoa means “First Animal”.

• Cells contain a nucleus.

• Cells lack a cell wall.

• They are heterotrophs.

• Most can move on their own.

4 Groups of Animal-like Protists

• 1. Sarcodines (SAHR-koh-dighnz)

• 2. Ciliates (SIHL-ee-ihts)

• 3. Zooflagellates (zoh-oh-FLAJ- ehl-ihts)

• 4. Sporozoans (spohr-oh-ZOH-uhnz)

1. Sarcodines

• Have pseudopods (Greek:“false foot”)• Extensions of the cell membrane and

cytoplasm.• Pseudopods are used for movement and to

capture food.• Many have shells.• These shells form limestone, marble and

chalk.

Type:

• Most familiar Sarcodine.

• Pseudopods: • Blob shaped.• Contractile

Vacuoles:controls amount of water inside

• Food Vacuole: where food is digested.

(Amoeba)

Split Personality

• Amebas reproduce by dividing into two new cells (binary fission).

• Amebas can respond to their environment.

• They are sensitive to light and some chemicals.

2. Ciliates

• Have Cilia on the outside of their cells.

• Tiny hair-like projections used for movement, to gather food and as feelers.

Type:

• Pellicle: tough outer wall.

• Slipper shaped

• Oral groove: like the mouth

• Gullet: holds food.

• Food Vacuole: digests food.

• Anal Pore: removes wastes.

3. Zooflagellates

• Have a Flagellum: a long whip-like structure used for movement.

• Many live in animals (symbiotic & parasitic)

4. Sporozoans

• All Sporozans are parasites.

• They feed on cells and body fluids.

• Form from Spores (tiny reproductive cells).

• Pass from one host to another.

• Pass from ticks, mosquitoes or other animals to humans.

II. Plant-like Protists

• Unicellular

• Can move

• Autotrophs: make their own food from simple materials using light energy.

• 70% of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by Plant-like Protists.

• Most are Flagellates (Phytoflagellates)

3 Groups of Plant like Protists

• 1. Euglenas (yoo-GLEE-nahz)

• 2. Diatoms (DIGH-ah-tahmz)

• 3. Dinoflagellates (digh-noh-FLAJ-eh-layts)

1. Euglenas

• Many shapes• Have two flagella• Eyespot: sensitive to

light.• Chloroplasts

(autotrophs)• Pellicle

2. Diatoms

• 10,000 living species.• Aquatic• Glassy shell• Diatomaceous earth:

course powder that comes from dead diatoms (toothpaste, car polish & reflective paint.

3. Dinoflagellates

• Cell walls are like plates of armor.

• Two flagella• Spins when it moves.• Colorful.• Can glow in the dark.• Causes Red Tide

III. Fungus-like Protists

• Heterotrophs

• Most have cell walls.

• Many have flagella.

• One type: Slime Molds

Type:

• Reproduce by Fruiting Bodies:

• The Fruiting Bodies contain Spores.

• At first they look like ameba, then later they look like mold.

Created by Mrs. Scibelli

Exploring Life Science: Prentice Hall, 1995Encarta