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ANDY

 

SPIKE

RACHAEL

 
 
 
 
Protists are all eukaryotic organisms and for the most part are unicellular or have very simple multicellular structures.  The kingdom Protista included all of these unique organisms.

 
 
Basic Characteristics of  Protists
Photosynthetic Autotrophs
Multinucleate and Multicellular Heterotrophs
Unicellular Heterotrophs
Protist Master? Take the Protist Test

 
External Links

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
~OBJECTIVES~

After reviewing this portion of the Protist web site, you will be able to:

  • Describe characteristics of the kingdom Protista.
  • List the five phyla of protozoa and give characteristics of each phyla.
                                                                                                                                                         . 

 
The kingdom Protista includes heterotrophs (a number of them parasitic forms), photosynthetic autotrophs, as well as a few versatile organisms that are both heterotrophic and photosynthetic.  The only two characteristics that are common between the majority of protists are that most of the species are unicellular and have relatively simple multicellular or multinucleate structures.

 

Below is a chart breaking up all eukaryotes...



 
 

There are a total of five phyla of protazoa



 


 

 

 

...but what makes them so different?

Phylum Mastigophora
Flagellates, parasitic or free living
Phylum Sacrodina
Amoeba-like organisms, free living or parasitic
Phylum Ciliophora
Ciliates, free living or parasitic
Phylum Opalinida
Opanlinids, intestinal parasites of lower vertebrates
Phylum Sporozoa
Sporozoans, parasitic

 
 
 
You are now an expert in the Basic Characteristics of Protists ...                  Click  to return Home

 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


~OBJECTIVES~

After reviewing this portion of the Protist web site, you will be able to:

  • Describe the characteristics of photosynthetic protists in general.
  • Describe the three divisions of photosynthetic unicellular autotrophs.
  • Describe the three divisions of photosynthetic multicellular autotrophs.
    •
     

     

    The Photosynthetic Autotrophs are divided into six divisions


    Unicellular
    Multicellular
    Euglenophyta, Chrysophyta, Dinoflagellata
    Chlorophyta, Rhodophyta, Phaeophyta

     
     
     
    Comparative Summary of Characteristics of the Photosynthetic Protists

     
    Division
    Number of Species
    Food Reserve
    Flagella
    Cell Wall Component
    Euglenophyta
    1,000
    Paramylon and fats
    1-3 per cell, apical (at end of cell)
    No cell wall
    Chrysophyta
    13,000
    Laminarin and oils
    0-2, apical
    Cellulose (sometimes with silica)
    Dinoflagellata
    2,000
    Starch and oils
    0 or 2, lateral
    Cellulose
    Chlorophyta
    9,000
    Starch
    2
    Polysaccharides (some with cellulose)
    Phaeophyta
    1,500
    Laminarin and oils
    2, lateral (reproductive cells only)
    Cellulose and algin
    Rhodophyta
    4,000
    Floridean starch
    None
    Cellulose, pectin compounds, impregnated with calcium carbonate in some

     
    Since these protists are autotrophic they can make there own food...just like a tree!

     
     
    Check out these examples of the different divisions of Unicellular Photosynthetic Autotrophs:

     
    Euglenophyta
    Chrysophyta
    Dinoflagellata

    Euglena

    Spirogyra

    Certium tripos

     
     
     
    Check out these examples of the different divisions of Multicellular Photosynthetic Autotrophs:

     
    Chlorophyta

    Volvox
    Rhodophyta

    Valonia
    Phaeophyta

    Slime Mold

     
     
     

     
     
    What did you expect?

     
    The photosynthetic autotrophic and green protists have their very own chloroplasts!

    ...don't believe me? Go ask one.
     
     
     
    You are now an expert in Photosynthetic Autotrophs                           Click  to return to Home

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     




    ~OBJECTIVE~

    After reviewing this portion of the Protist web site, you will be able to:

    • Distinguish qualities of slime and water molds.
     

     
     

    The slime molds are a group of organisms classified with protists because of their similarity to amoebas. There are two divisions of slime molds.

    There are about 550 species of Myxomycota in the world. They are plasmodial slime molds.
    There are about  65 species of Acrasiomycota in the world.  They are cellular slime molds.


    Most of these species live in cool, shady, moist places, in the woods, for example on decaying logs, dead leaves, or other damp organic matter.

     
     
     
    EXAMPLES OF...
    SLIME MOLD
    WATER MOLD

    Sporeangia

    Rhizophydium

     
     
     

    Comparative Summary of Characteristics of the Heterotrophic Protists

     
    Division
    Locomotor Structures
    Mode of Reproduction
    Myxomycota
    Pseudopodia (flagella on reproductive cells)
    Asexual (spores) or sexual (fusion of germinated spores)
    Acrasiomycota
    Pseudopodia
    Asexual; few sexual

     
     
    SLIME MOLDS...

     
    Plasmodial Slime Molds:

    Come in a variety of colors and so are very beautiful.  These pigments are thought to be photoreceptors for use in spore production, a process that requires light.
    They are coenocytic as it develops, but sychronous in the early stages of life.
    These molds will continue to grow until their food supply decreases to an inadequate point and moisture is unavailable.  After growth has stopped, the plasmodium will separate into mounds of protoplasm and develop into sporangium (a spore developing structure).  From some of the new spores created, new plasmodium develops.

     
    * coenocytic - refers to an organism consisting of many nuclei within a common cytoplasm.

     
     
    Cellular Slime Molds:

    These slime molds begin their life cycle as amoeba-like organisms except that amoebas do not lose their cell membranes, but retain their identity as individual cells; whereas, cellular slime molds function as the reverse.

     
     
     
    WATER MOLDS...

     
    In general, water molds are coenocytic organisms.  In the early days of classification these species were placed in the kingdom of fungi because of their strong resemblance to fungi. 

    Now all water molds have been classified into two principal divisions:
    1) Division Chytridiomycota - consisting of over 900 species
    2) Division Oomycota - consisting of over 800 species.

     
     
    Division Chytridiomycota

    Organisms in this division are generally found in fresh and salt water and/or in moist soil.  They live as parasites on organisms such as algae, plants, and fungi; or as saprobes feeding on dead algae, pollen grains, and other plant debris. 
    The majority of Chytridiomycota (or chytrids) are small vegetative bodies that contain no nuclei and absorb dissolved nutrients from the substrate. 
    Other chytrids have more complex structures and reproduce sexually using flagellated gametes of varying sizes and mobilities.

     
    Division Oomycota

    Named for the the display of oogamy or the differentiation of gametes. 
    (In other words, species are clearly male or female.) 
    Organisms in this division reproduce asexually using spores which each have two flagella.  These organisms most resemble fungi in their structure because they consist of coenocytic filaments.  Unlike fungi however, these organisms have cellulose contained in their cell walls.

     
    MANY ARE AQUATIC OR REQUIRE WATER TO REPRODUCE ~ HENCE WATER MOLD!!!

     
     
     
     
     
     
    You are now an expert in Multinucleate and Multicellular Heterotrophs                  Click  to return Home

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     


    ~OBJECTIVES~

    After reviewing this portion of the Protist web site, you will be:

    • Familiar with the seven principal divisions of heterotrophic protists (except slime molds).
    • Familiar with distinguishing factors used to divide the heterotrophs into divisions.
                                                                                             .

     
     
     

    Comparative Summary of Characteristics of the Heterotrophic Protists 
    (except slime molds)

     
     
    Division
    Number of Species
    Locomotor Structures
    Other info...
    Chytridiomycota
    900
    Flagella (on spores and gametes)
    Coenocytic; mostly aquatic
    Oomycota
    800
    Flagella (on spores)
    Coenocytic; mainly aquatic; cause plants to mildew
    Mastigophora
    1,500
    Flagella (some form pseudopodia)
    Unicellular; mostly parasitic
    Sarcodina
    11,500
    Pseudopodia (some form flagella)
    Unicellular; mostly free living
    Ciliophora
    8,000
    Cilia
    Unicellular; mostly free living; have macro- and micronuclei
    Opalinida
    400
    Cilia or flagella
    Unicellular; intestinal parasites
    Sporozoa
    5,000
    None
    Unicellular; cause devastating diseases

     
     
     
     

     
    Examples of organisms from the 7 different divisions of Unicellular Heterotrophs:

     
     Chytridiomycota

    Chytrid
     Oomycota

    Achlya
     Mastigophora

    G. lamblia
     Sarcodina

    Amoeba proteus

     
     
     
    Ciliophora

    Stentor
    Opalinida

    Opalina
    Sporozoa

    Babesia microti

     
     
     
     

    Go Spike Go!!

     
     
     
     You are now an expert in Unicellular Heterotrophs                                      Click  to return Home

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

    EXTERNAL LINKS

     

    Online Lesson: Protista
    Protist Image Data (PID)
    Amoeba Pictures
    Biosis
    Educational Web Sites
    Protist Images
    The Spike Site
    Misc Pictures
     
    Not responsible for content outside....                                                       Click  to return Home

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     


     
     
    Name: Rachael
    Favorite Protists: Spike
    Locomotor Structures: Legs
    Favorite Food: Macaroni and Cheese
    Favorite Movie: Newsies
    Dream Car: Honda Accord
    Future Career: NYSE Floor Specialist
    Favorite Book: Huck Finn

     

    Name: Spike
    Favorite Protists: "anything that won't eat me"
    Locomotor Structures: Pseudo Pontiac
    Favorite Food: "little critters"
    Favorite Movie: Outbreak
    Dream Car: Flagella Ferrari
    Future Career: Protistent of the United States of America
    Favorite Book: The Andromeda Strain

     
     
     
    Name: Andy
    Favorite Protists: Spike
    Locomotor Structures: Geo Metro (don't laugh)
    Favorite Food: Meat
    Favorite Movie: Clue
    Dream Car: McLaren F1
    Future Career: G-man
    Favorite Book: Rainbow Six

     

    Click  to return Home