ch 19.1, 19.4 Bio
Why are protists different from other eukaryotes?
Do not develop complex reproductive structures (such as embryos) The Phylum of Kingdom Protista are all very different from one another
"Animal-like" Protists Characteristics
Unicellular Capture/eat organisms for nutrition (heterotrophs) Most can move Asexual reproduction (binary fission)
Why doesn't spraying water on a slime mold work to destroy them?
Because it just spreads their spores
Describe how slime molds help other organisms within an ecosystem obtain nutrients
- They decomposed dead matter which releases nutrients that plants can absorb and then the cycle starts again
What observable traits might green algae and plants share that support the molecular evidence that these two groups are closely related?
- both are green, have chloroplasts, are eukaryotic, and are sometimes multicellular
At one time, scientists grouped all single-celled organisms together. What are the main differences between single-celled protists and bacteria or Achaea?
- protists are eukaryotic which means that they have cells that have a nucleus and membrane bound organelles while bacteria/Achaea are prokaryotic and therefore they do not have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles in their cells
Give two reasons why protists are difficult to classify
- some protists are very distantly related are some are more related to species in other kingdoms than they are to each other - the definition of protists is based on the absence of traits that characterize other kingdoms
3 Major Groups of Protists
1. "Animal-like" Protists (Phylum Protozoa) 2. "Fungi-like" Protists 3. "Plant-like" Protists
3 Types of "Fungi-like" Protists
1. Slime Molds 2. Water Molds 3. Downy Mildews
How do "fungi-like" protists obtain nutrition?
Absorb nutrients from the environment
"Fungi-like" Protists Characteristics
Absorb nutrients from the environment (heterotrophs) Most are unicellular Cell walls made of carbohydrates
Protists that obtain nutrition by capturing and eating organisms
All "Animal-like" Protists
Protists that obtain nutrition by absorbing nutrients from the environment
All "Fungi-like" Protists
Protists that obtain nutrition by photosynthesis
All "Plant-like" Protists
How do "animal-like" protists obtain nutrition?
Capture/eat organisms (heterotrophs)
Kingdom Protista Characteristics
Eukaryotes Multicellular (some unicellular) Sexual reproduction (Some asexual) Both autotrophs and heterotrophs Some have cell walls (made of carbohydrates), some don't
Protist
Eukaryotes that are not plants, animals, or fungi ("misfits")
Slime Molds Characteristics
Multicellular (colonies) AND unicellular Move with pseudopodia Mainly found in soil
Water Molds & Downy Mildews
Multicellular AND unicellular Feed on decaying tissue (dead algae, dead animals, rotten logs, etc.) Parasitic (harmful) - Plant pathogens, cause disease in fish
How do "plant-like" protists obtain nutrition?
Photosynthesis (autotrophs)
Benefits of Protists
Produce half of the earth's oxygen Consume carbon dioxide (reduces global warming) Form the base of aquatic food chains Supplies coral reef with nutrients Used for scientific research Algae helps thicken food products