PROTISTS

CONTENTS

01 02 03
Protists Classifications of Importance of
Protists Protists

04 05 06
Reproduction in Harmful effects Quiz Time
Protists of Protists
01
PROTISTS
 PROTISTS
• Protists are eukaryotic organisms that are not
animals, plants, or fungus.

• They can be unicellular, colonial, or multicellular.

• Can be found in freshwater, marine environments,

soil, and extreme environments.

• Protists have nuclear membranes around their DNA.

They also have other membrane-bound organelles.
AN IMAGE OF A PROTIST UNDER A MICROSCOPE
 CLASSIFICATIONS OF PROTISTS

ANIMAL-LIKE PLANT-LIKE FUNGUS-LIKE

PROTISTS PROTISTS PROTISTS
 ANIMAL-LIKE PROTISTS
• Also called as “Protozoa”

• Are single-celled eukaryotes that share characteristics

with animals

• Are heterotrophic

• Examples: amoebas, paramecia, trypanosomes, and

plasmodium
 PLANT-LIKE PROTISTS
• Also called as “Algae”

• Are a diverse group of photosynthetic protists that share

characteristics with plants

• Algae have chlorophyll and produce food through

photosynthesis.

• Examples: euglena, diatoms, and dinoflagellates

 FUNGUS-LIKE PROTISTS
• Also called as “Slime molds” and “Water molds”

• They share characteristics with fungi but are not true fungi

• Are typically decomposers, feeding on dead organic matter

• Are also heterotrophic

• Examples: slime molds, water molds, and downy mildews

IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTS
• Ecology
- Serve as primary producers, contributing to the
food chains and nutrient cycles
- They generate oxygen and fix carbon dioxide
through photosynthesis

• Nutrient Recycling
- They decompose dead plant and animal material
to release nutrients back for other organisms
- Maintain ecosystem productivity and nutrient
balance
REPRODUCTION IN PROTISTS
• Asexual Reproduction Methods
> Binary fission – most common form of asexual
reproduction, where a single-celled protist divides into two
identical daughter cells
> Budding – a small outgrowth forms on the parent body,
eventually separating to become a new individual

• Sexual Reproduction Methods

> Syngamy – the complete fusion of two gametes to form a
zygote.
> Conjugation - a form of sexual reproduction where two
individuals exchange genetic material.
HARMFUL EFFECTS OF PROTISTS

DISEASES IN HUMANS HARMFUL ALGAL

AND ANIMALS BLOOMS
Malaria and African sleeping Harmful toxins that can affect
sickness marine organisms

AGRICULTURAL DAMAGE
Some protists can cause plant diseases, resulting
in crop damage, lower yields, and economic
losses in agriculture.
QUIZ
TIME!
1. Animal-like Protists are also called______?

2. What are eukaryotic organisms that are not animals,

plants, or fungus but share characteristics with them?

3. The complete fusion of two gametes to form a zygote is

called ______?

4. What are the protists that are decomposers?

5. Give 1 method of asexual or sexual reproduction in

protists.