Protists Kingdom

Protists Kingdom

Habitat-Most protists are aquatic (but some in soil).

-Plankton are organisms that drift or swim near the surface of the water. Phytoplankton are responsible for half of the world’s photosynthesis and O2 production.

Characteristics

• Eukaryote• Unicellular, colonial, multicellular• Autotrophic to heterotrophic, some are both• Three main groups:– Plant-like: Algae (producers, photosynthic) &

seaweed– Animal-like: Protozoa (consumers)– Fungal-like: slime-molds (consumers)

Algae

• Plant-like - phytoplankton/ photosynthesis• Classified by type of pigment– Diatoms: shelled algae– Chlorophyta: green algae– Euglenophyta: euglena– Dinoflagellata: red tide– Chrysophyta: golden algae– Phaeophyta: brown algae– Rhodophyta: red algae

ChlorophytaGreen algae

• Unicellular to multicellular• Some seaweed

Euglenophyta

Euglenophyta

• Unicellular• Both photosynthetic & heterotrophic• Moves by a flagella• Has an eyespot (moves toward light)

ChlorphytaGreen Algae

• 8000 species• 9o% freshwater• 10% seaweeds (tropical)• Ancestor of land plants (spirogyra)

Diatoms

• Unicellular• Covered with a silica shell

Water filters

Diatoms

• Diatomite is used as an insulating material against both heat and sound,

• in making dynamite and other explosives, • for filters, • abrasives, • Diatoms have deposited most of the earth’s limestone• petroleum is of diatom origin.

Dinoflagellates

• dinoflagellates are important constituents of plankton, and as such are primary food sources in warmer oceans. Many forms are phosphorescent

Red Tide (Fire Algae)

bioluminiscence

RhodaphytaRed algae

• role in building reefs

Multicellular

Deep water Seaweed

Human foodsource

PhaeophytaBrown algae

• Multicellular

Sargassum & Kelp

Protozoaanimal-like

• Unicellular• Classified by movement• Heterotrophs• 30,000 species

flagella

Ciliates

Amoeboid

Brain-Eating Amoeba Thrives in Warm, Fresh WaterThe dangerous amoeba has killed three people this summer.