Life Functions in Protists

Your Father was a protist

ANIMAL LIKE PROTISTS (19.1)

• Also known as “protozoans”• Heterotrophic• Classified into four groups based on how they

move– Zooflagellates– Sarcodines– Ciliates– sporozoans

Zooflagellates

• Use a flagella to move:– A long projection that looks much like a “whip”• Same things that a sperm cell use to move

• Some reproduce asexually (mitosis) and some reproduce sexually (meiosis)

Sarcodines

• Move using something called a pseudopod– this same pseudopod (pseudopodia) is used to

help the amoeba capture and take in food particles

• Amoeba is a cell that is a sarcodine (***)– Amoebas also called the “SHAPELESS PROTIST”

Ciliates• These use “cilia” for movement and feeding– Cilia move in a sweeping motion to help cell move– Cilia also sweep food particles toward the “oral

groove” of the cell• Paramecium is a cell that is a ciliate (***)• Removes excess water using a “contractile

vacuole”• Contain 2 nuclei:– Macronucleus: stores genetic information (DNA)– Micronucleus: backup copy of cells genes for

reproduction

Paramecium

Ciliates

• Some reproduce asexually (binary fission)• Some reproduce sexually (conjugation)– No new individuals are really formed here, they

are just exchanging genetic information through the PILUS connecting them

Sporozoans

• Parasites that live in hosts such as fish, birds, and humans– That means they get their food from their hosts

• Reproduce by means of spores– A tiny cell that can grow into an organism

PLANT LIKE PROTISTS (19.2)

• Commonly described as algae– Contain chlorophyll and conduct photosynthesis

• Usually live near the edges of water– And a vast amount in the oceans

• Produce a MAJORITY of the earth’s oxygen• Six groups:– Diatoms, dinoflagellates, euglenoids, red algae,

brown algae, green algae

Diatoms Dinoflagellates

Euglenoids

Red Algae

Brown Algae

Green Algae

Cells Uni- Uni- Multi- Multi- Uni-Multi-

Nutrition Auto- (50%)Hetero- (50%)

AutoDecomp.

Auto Auto Auto

Movement

2 Flagella(Spinning Algae)

Flagella

Reproduction

SexuallyAsexually

Asexually(binary fission)

Binary fission

*Alternation of Generations

Alternation of Generations

• In this pattern of reproduction, organisms alternate between haploid (n) and diploid (2n)

• Gametophyte:– Haploid (n) form of organism– Produces “gametes” (duh!)

• Sporophyte:– Diploid (2n) form of organism– Undergoes meiosis to form haploid spores (n) that

can develop into a new gametophyte• Look at Figure 19.14 on page 516

FUNGUS LIKE PROTISTS (19.3)

• Heterotrophs (decomposers)• Have cell walls• Use spores to reproduce• ARE DIFFERENT FROM FUNGI because they

“lack chitin in their cell wall”• Include 2 groups:– Slime molds– Water molds

Slime Molds

• Resemble colorful blobs that live in damp environments

• Living mass oozes across a surface– Feeds on bacteria, bits of decaying organic matter,

and microorganisms

• Are like animals because they move about and engulf food

Water Molds

• Small, unicellular• Live in water/moist soil• Grow as tiny threads that look like “fuzz”• Some are decomposers, others are parasites

that live on a host

• THE END!!!