ProtistsThey’re cool

What is a protist?•A one or many-celled organism that lives in a wet or moist environment.•All have eukaryotic cells•Some act like plants, animals, or fungus•Usually reproduce asexually by dividing in half or regenerating• They can also reproduce sexually.

Plant – like protists•Contain chlorophyll•Make their own food•Known as algae •Some have one cell and some have many cells

Diatoms•Have golden-brown pigment that covers up green chlorophyll

Dinoflagellates•Name means “spinning flagellates•Have two flagella•Some have chemicals that cause them to glow at night.

Bioluminescense

3 Types of Algae

•Red Algae – contain chlorophyll but produce lots of red pigment• Found deep in the ocean - don’t need much

light

Red Algae

Green Algae•Contain a lot of chlorophyll •Very plant-like•Live close to the surface

Green Algae

Brown Algae

•Contain brown pigment (obviously)•Usually found in cool, saltwater environments•Kelp is a type of brown algae

Brown Algae (kelp)

Importance of Algae•Grass of the ocean – staple of the food chain.

Red Tide

Algae and you!•Carrageenan – found in the cell walls of red algae is used in both cosmetics and food.• Toothpaste, pudding, salad dressing

Animal – Like Protists

Protozoans: one-celled, animal-like protists. -live in or on other living or dead organisms found in water or soil.

Ciliates•Have cilia (short, threadlike structures that extend from cell membrane)•Help the organism move

Flagellates•Move through environment by whipping their long flagella.

Pseudopods

•Not an organism but a type of movement used by some protozoans.•“pseudopod” means false foot •Amoeba is a well-known member of this group. Uses pseudopods to eat and move.

•Many protozoans are parasites of humans and other animals.•Live part of their lives in one animal, and part in another. •The parasites that causes malaria, African sleeping sickness, and giardia are all protozoans.