Protists are unicellular organisms that have a nucleus.

Kingdom: Protista
 Similar to Bacteria
 Unicellular
 One of the first groups of living things on Earth.
(1.5 billion years ago.)
 Microscopic
 Can cause disease.
 Can be parasites
Difference from Bacteria
 Has a nucleus.

 Live in watery environment.

 Generally live as individual cells.

 Protists vary greatly in appearance and function.

 3 Categories
 I. Animal-like Protists.

 II. Plant-like Protists.

 III. Fungus-like Protists.

I. Animal-like Protists
 Protozoan means “First Animal”.

 Cells contain a nucleus.

 Cells lack a cell wall.

 They are heterotrophs.

 Most can move on their own.

4 Groups of Animal-like
Protists
 1. Sarcodines (SAHR-koh-dighnz)

 2. Ciliates (SIHL-ee-ihts)

 3. Flagellates (FLAJ- ehl-ihts)

 4. Sporozoans (spohr-oh-ZOH-uhnz)
 1. Sarcodines
 Have pseudopods (Greek:“false foot”)
 Extensions of the cell membrane and cytoplasm.
 Pseudopods are used for movement and to capture
food.
 Many have shells.
 These shells form limestone, marble and chalk.
One type:
 Most familiar
Sarcodine.
 Pseudopods:
 Blob shaped.
 Contractile Vacuoles:
controls amount of
water inside
 Food Vacuole: where
food is digested.
 Split Personality
 Amebas reproduce by
dividing into two new
cells (binary fission).
 Amebas can respond
to their environment.
 They are sensitive to
light and some
chemicals.
 2. Ciliates
 Have cilia on the
outside of their cells.
 Tiny hair-like
projections used for
movement, to gather
food and as feelers.
 Pellicle: tough outer
wall.
 Slipper shaped Type: Paramecium
 Oral groove: like the
mouth
 Gullet: holds food.
 Food Vacuole: digests
food.
 Anal Pore: removes
wastes
 2 Contractile Vacuoles
 2 Nuclei
 Reproduces by either
binary fission or
conjugation.
 3. Flagellates
(Zooflagellates)
 Have a Flagellum: a
long whip-like structure
used for movement.
 Many live in animals
 Symbiosis a close
relationship, at least
one benefits.
 Mutualism: when both
partners benefit.
 4. Sporozoans
 All Sporozans are parasites.

 They feed on cells and body fluids.

 Form from Spores (tiny reproductive cells).

 Pass from one host to another.

 Pass from ticks, mosquitoes or other animals to

humans.
 II. Plant-like Protists
(Algae)

 Unicellular and Multicellular

 Colonies (groups of unicellular protists)

 Can move on their own

 Autotrophs: make their own food from simple materials using light
energy (photosynthesis).

 70% of the Earth’s oxygen is produced by Plant-like Protists!

 Pigments: chemicals that produce color

6 Groups of Plant like
Protists
 Euglenoids (yoo-GLEE-noydz)

 Diatoms (DIGH-ah-tahmz)

 Dinoflagellates (digh-noh-FLAJ-eh-layts)

 Red Algae

 Green Algae

 Brown Algae
 1. Euglenoids
 Green
 Unicellular
 Live in fresh water
 Autotrophs, but can be
heterotrophs under certain
conditions.
 Flagella
 Eyespot: sensitive to light.
 Chloroplasts
 Pellicle
 2. Diatoms
 Unicellular
 10,000 living species.
 Aquatic
 Glass like cell wall
 Diatomaceous earth:
course powder that
comes from dead
diatoms (toothpaste,
car polish & reflective
paint.
 3. Dinoflagellates
 Unicellular
 Cell walls are like
plates of armor.
 Two flagella
 Spins when it moves.
 Colorful (pigments)
 Can glow in the dark.
 Causes Red Tide
 Red Algae
 Multicellular seaweeds

 Live in deep ocean waters

 Used for ice cream and hair

conditioner

 Used as food in Asia

 Green Algae
 Most are unicellular

 Some form colonies

 Few are multicellular

 Can live in fresh and salt water

and on land in damp places.

 Very closely related to green

plants.
 Brown Algae
 Commonly called seaweed

 Can contain brown, green,

yellow, orange and black
pigments.

 Attach to rocks

 Have air bladders

 Giant Kelp can be 100 meters

long!

 Used as food thickeners

 III. Fungus-like Protists
 Heterotrophs

 Have cell walls.

 Many have flagella and are able to move at some point in their lives.

 Three types: Slime Molds, Water & Downy Molds

 Reproduce with Spores (tiny cell that is able to grow into a new
organism)
 Water & Downy Molds
 Live in water or moist places.

 Tiny threads that look like fuzz.

 Attack food crops

 Caused the Irish Potato Famine.

 Type:
 Reproduce by Fruiting
Bodies:
 The Fruiting Bodies
contain Spores.
 At first they look like
ameba, then later they
look like mold.
 Live on moist shady
places.
 Feed on bacteria and
other microorganisms.