Protists Flashcards
What is a protist?
Protists are a group of loosely connected, mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms that are not plants, animals or fungi.
What common characteristics do they share with other kingdoms? (2)
- All eukaryotic
- All live in moist environments because they have no protection against dying out
What different characteristics do they have in contrast to the other kingdoms? (3)
- Unicellular or Multicellular
- Microscopic or over 100 meters long
- Heterotrophs or Autotrophs
Since protists vary so much, the Protista kingdom can be grouped into subcategories: (2)
- ) Plant-like Protista
2. ) Animal-like Protista
What are plant-like Protista commonly called?
Algae
What is the structure of algae? (8)
- Algae are simple, aquatic eukaryotes
- Algae contain chlorophyll in chloroplasts which enables them to make their own food i.e.
- Algae release large quantities of oxygen during photosynthesis
- Algae are mostly free-floating
- Algae can be unicellular
- Algae can be multicellular
- Algae reproduce asexually.
Are the unicellular algae cells bigger than bacteria?
Yes, and can be seen easily with a light microscope
What are autotrophs?
An autotroph is an organism that can produce its own food using light, water, carbon dioxide, or other chemicals.
How are algae placed into their various groups? (3)
According to various features such as
- Photosynthetic pigment
- Substances making cell wall
- Presence of flagella
Example of green algae: (2)
Spirogyra and green seaweeds
Example of brown algae:
Kelp
Example of red algae:
-Red Seaweed
Where are red and brown algae found?
Found in deeper water where there is less sunlight for photosynthesis
What is plankton?
Plankton refers to the numerous micro-organisms floating in currents of the open oceans.
Which two groups can plankton be divided into? (2)
- Phytoplankton: Plant-like unicellular protists (algae)
- Zooplankton: Bacteria and animal-like unicellular protists (protozoans)
