Student Protist web pages                              Biology Week 12 -  Day 3

The Protists

click to find the answer to today's question

Where does the kingdom name "protista" come from?

euglena, a plant-like protistThe Kingdom Protistalink to an Internet Website link to an Internet Website contains the protozoa, algae, slime molds, and water molds. All of these organisms are eukaryoticlink to a local webpage and lack tissue differentiation.

Division/Phylum: Protozoa

These single-celled microorganisms are noted for their ability to move independently. Protozoans live in environments that vary from soil to the bodies of other organisms. Many species of protozoa make up zooplankton,link to an Internet Website one of the primary sources of energy in aquatic ecosystems. Not all zooplankton are classified as protozoans.

The sub-phyla of protozoa:

link to an Internet Websitelink to a local picturelink to a local pictureSarcodina - the amoeba
link to a local picturelink to a local pictureCiliophora - the paramecium
link to an Internet WebsiteZoomastigina - the trypanosoma
link to an Internet WebsiteSporozoa - the plasmodium

Division/Phylum: Algae

These plant-like protists all carry on photosynthesis. Although most algae are single-cell organisms, some are large multicellular organisms. link to an Internet WebsiteThe largest algae are the seaweeds known as kelp that are hundreds of feet long. All algae, no matter their size, lack tissue differentiation. Most aquatic algae compose the phytoplankton, the foundation of aquatic food chains. Phytoplankton produces almost half the world's carbohydrates and oxygen.

a species of euglenaThe sub-phyla of algae:link to an Internet Website

link to an Internet WebsiteChlorophyta - the green algae
link to an Internet WebsitePhaeophyta - the brown algae
link to an Internet WebsiteRhodophyta - the red algae
link to an Internet WebsiteBacillariophyta - the diatoms
link to an Internet WebsiteDinoflagellata - the dinoflagellates
link to an Internet WebsiteChrysophyta - the golden algae
link to an Internet WebsiteEuglenophyta - the euglenoids (both pictures on this page)

Division/Phylum: Slime Molds

These heterotrophic organisms spend a part of their lives in a mobile, amoeba-like form. They produce a reproductive structure that makes them look like a fungus. They appear as a glistening, viscous mass of slime. Most are yellow or red, but some are white.

The phyla of slime molds:link to an Internet Website

Acrasiomycota - pseudopasmodium
Myxomycota - plasmodium

Division/Phylum: Water Molds

Fungus-like organisms composed of branching filaments of cells. While most water molds are aquatic, some live in the soil, and others are plant parasites.

The phyla of water molds:link to an Internet Website

Oomycota - plant parasites responsible for blight.
Chytridiomycota - aquatic protists very similar to fungi.

The body structure, reproduction, and biochemical pathways cause biologists to think that chytrids are a link between protists and fungi.

Day 3 Assignment - Protist
This assignment must be turned in by the end of class today to receive credit.
Scoring criterialink to a local webpage 

1.      Name the different divisions/phylum of the kingdom Protista.

2.      What are the sub-phylum of the protozoa?

3.      How many sub-phylum are there for the division Algae? Name them.

4.      Which type of algae is not single celled?

5.      Draw or cut-and-paste a picture of an amoeba here, label the parts. How does an amoeba move?

6.      Euglena’s are classified in which division/phylum?

7.      How does a Euglena obtain its nutrients?

8.      Draw or cut-and-paste a picture of a paramecium here, label the parts. Describe the functions of each part.

9.      What are diatoms? Which division/phylum are the classified in?

10.  How are diatoms and swimming pools related (hint: filtration & D. E. - diatomaceous earth)?

11.  What is Chagas’ disease? What Protist causes this disease? Which division/phylum are they classified in?

12.  What is special about the cell wall of the dinoflagellates? Show an example.

13.   Explain how dinoflagellates can cause a “red tide” and how it can harm humans?

14.   Name five different species of protist.  (list the Genus species name)

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The Kingdom Protista was the third kingdom named. At the time, the other two kingdoms were for animals or plants. Some scientists wanted to include these organisms in the plant kingdom and others protested and wanted to place them in the animal kingdom. Eventually, a compromise was reached. They were all placed into a third kingdom, the Protists.