BIOLOGY NOTES CHAPTER 21 “PROTISTS”

1. BIOLOGY NOTESCHAPTER 21 “PROTISTS”

2. I. Kingdom Protista • Protists are eukaryotes that lack the features of animals, plants, or fungi. They can be unicellular or multicellular, autotrophic or heterotrophic. Found almost anywhere there is water and are also common in moist soil and sand.

3. A. Types of Protists Protozoa – heterotrophic, animal-like • Amoeba – moves by use of projections of streaming cytoplasm called pseudopodia (false feet). Use false feet to engulf and capture food. • Paramecium – have cilia for movement. Two paramecia can exchange DNA during conjugation.

4. 3. Dinoflagellates– cause of redtides; produce a toxin that can poison fish and humans. 4. Euglena – autotrophic and heterotrophic; have an eyespot that is light sensitive.

5. Algae – autotrophic, plant-like protists 5. Can be unicellular or multicellular. Found in freshwater and saltwater. Contain chlorophyll and go through photosynthesis. Ex: large brown algae known as kelp, spirogyra,volvox Fungus-like protists 6. Slime and water molds

6. II. Protists and Health • Some protists are beneficial: 1. Make up much of the plankton in the ocean. 2. Single largest group of photosynthesizers in the world. 3. Help recycle nutrients in the environment.

7. One of the greatest effects protists have on humans is that they cause disease in humans and livestock. 1. Malaria – caused by the protist genus Plasmodium and spread by infected mosquitos. 2. African sleeping sickness – spread by the bite of the tsetse fly. 3. Amebic dysentery – transmitted in contaminated food or water.