
Introduction to Protists • Eukaryotes. • Most diverse • Most are unicellular, some colonial and multicellular species. • Simplest eukaryotic organisms. • Many protists are exceedingly complex – the most elaborate of all cells. • Aquatic • Asexual/sexual reproduction
Protists • Aerobic in their metabolism, using mitochondria for cellular respiration. • Phototrophs with chloroplasts. • Heterotrophs that absorb organic materials or ingest larger food particles. • Mixotrophs: combo of photo and heterotrophic nutrition
Early EuK Origin • proK small size, limit space for genes. • Limits metabolic activity • Evolution of ProK: • Multi-cellular proK • Complex communities • Compartmentalization • Endosymbiosis • Mitochiondria • Plastids (chloroplasts) • Produces a chimera
Secondary Endosymbiosis • Diversity of Algae • Endosymbiosis occurs twice
Diplomonadida & Parabasala • No mitochondria • Multiple flagella • Giardia lambia • Trichomonas vaginalis
Euglenozoa • Eugleniods and Kinetoplastids • Single mitochondria • Types • Trypanosoma (African sleeping sickness) • Euglena
Alveolata • Parasitic • Cilia • Types • Dinoflagellates: phytoplankton • Pfiesteria piscicidia: carnivorous, blooms, toxins stuns • Apicomplexans • Plasmodium: Produces sporozoite • Ciliophora • Conjugation
Stramenopila • Heterotrophic/photosynthetic • Oomycota • Diatoms • Golden, Brown Algae (seaweed)
Alteration of Generations • Alteration of haploid/diploid that are multicellular • Sporophyte = diploid individual • Gametophyte = haploid individual • Heteromorphic = sporophyte/gametophyte structurally different • Isomorphic = s/g look alike, differ in chromosome number
Algae • Rhodophyta: red algae • No flagella • Phycobilins (red pigment) in plastids • Chlorophyta: green algae • Green pigment • Lichens • Biflagellated • Many colonial, multicellular
Movement and Feeding • Heterotrophs, symbiotic • Rhizopoda: amoebas • Pseudopodia • Actinopoda: Heliozoans • Axopodia • Foraminifera • Marine • Porous shell
Mycetozoa • Slime Molds • Plasmodium Slime Molds: • Cellular Slime Molds: