1. Kingdom Protista Unit 2 - Biodiversity

2. Kingdom Protista • Eukaryotic (all members of this Kingdom have a nucleus and organelles bound with membranes) • Most Protists are unicellular, but there are many that are multicellular • Autotrophic, Heterotrophic, and some alternate. • Cell walls may or may not be present

3. Major Divisons • Algae (Plant like protists) • Protozoans (Animal like protists) • Slime Molds (Fungus like protists) • Protists are thought to be the ancestors of the other 3 Eukaryotic Kingdoms (Plantae, Animalia, Fungi)

4. Algae – Plant Like Protists • Autotrophic • Do have cell walls • Most immobile (meaning they cannont move on their own) • Think about the stuff you would find in a dirty pool, or pond scum.

5. Protozoans – Animal Like Protists • Heterotrophic • NO cell walls • Most can move • Cilia • (hair like) • Flagella • (tail like) • Pseudopod • (false foot) • Immobile ones are parasites.

6. Slime Molds – Fungus-like Protists • Heterotrophic decomposers • Have cell walls, but not made of chitin • Produce spores

7. Protists and you Contributions Negative Aspects • Autotrophic protists primary component of phytoplankton • Carry our between 70-80% of the Earth’s photosynthesis • Phytoplankton and Zooplankton are the base of the world’s food chains. • Many cause disease • Malaria • African Sleeping Sickness • Amebic Dysentery • Cause Red-Tides • Cause algae blooms