Kingdom Protista Flashcards
What is the primary characteristic of the kingdom Protista?
Most diverse kingdom
Often referred to as a ‘junk drawer’ of organisms that do not fit into the definitions of other kingdoms.
What types of nutrition can protists have?
Can be either heterotrophic OR autotrophic
How do most protists move?
Pseudopods, cilia or flagella
What is the cellular structure of protists?
Eukaryotes with large, complex cells containing many organelles
How do protists reproduce?
Can reproduce asexually (binary fission) or sexually
Where do most protists primarily live?
Aquatic environments: marine, freshwater, moist soil or blood of hosts
What is the endosymbiosis theory?
Mitochondria and chloroplasts in eukaryotic cells were once separate, free-living prokaryotic microbes
What are the three main classifications of protists?
Plant-like, Animal-like (Protozoans), Fungus-like
How are animal-like protists classified?
By how they move: Pseudopods, Cilia, Flagellum
What are the two types of feeding methods in animal-like protists?
- Holozoic (engulf food)
- Saprozoic (absorb predigested food)
What is an example of an amoeba-like protist?
Amoeba
Phylum Rhizopoda, uses pseudopods to engulf prey.
What is Naegleria fowleri known for?
Causes primary amebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), often fatal
What are cilia and their function in ciliates?
Small hairs that beat in a synchronized pattern to cause movement
What is an example of a ciliate?
Paramecium
How do flagellates move?
Use long whip-like hairs to propel the cell
What disease does Trypanosoma brucei cause?
Sleeping sickness
What is the role of the mosquito in the Plasmodium life cycle?
Acts as a vector, transmitting the pathogen to the host
What are the two forms of Plasmodium in its life cycle?
- Sporozoites (infect liver cells)
- Merozoites (infect blood cells)
What characterizes plant-like protists?
Autotrophs that contain chloroplasts for photosynthesis
What is the primary method of reproduction for diatoms?
Asexual reproduction
What are dinoflagellates responsible for?
Red tides and producing neurotoxins
What are the three types of algae?
- Green Algae
- Red Algae
- Brown Algae
What is unique about Euglenoids?
Have both animal and plant characteristics
What distinguishes fungus-like protists from true fungi?
Lack chitin in cell walls
What do fungus-like protists produce?
Spores
What is an example of a water mold?
Phytophthora infestans, causes potato blight
