Transcript Protists
Origin and Diversification
of Eukaryotes: Protists
Eukaryotic Cells
Nucleus and membrane bound organelles
Well developed cytoskeleton – structural
support that lends to asymmetric forms
May have originated more than 2.7 bya, but
1.8 bya widely accepted
3 stages of diversity documented
by fossil records
Initial diversification – 1.8 – 1.3 bya
Origin of multicellularity 1.3 bya – 635 mya
Emergence of large eukaryotes 635-535 mya
endosymbiosis
Symbiotic relationship in which one organism
lives inside the bosy or cell of another
organism.
DNA sequence data suggest that eukaryotes
are “combination” organism from Archaea
and Bacteria
Endosymbiont theory – mitochondria and
plastids were formerly small prokaryotes that
began living within larger cells. (See page 485)
Multicellularity
Colonies – collection of cells that are
connected but show little or no cellular
differentiation.
Multicellular organisms with differentiated
cells – Algae, plants, fungi and animals
Characteristics
Most diverse kingdom
eukaryotic., 1.5 bya
Primarily unicellular/multicellular,
heterotrophic/autotrophic
Usually asexual, some sexual
Found in water, damp soil and sand, leaf litter
Some are parasitic
14 phyla
Characteristics
Characteristics first seen in Protista kingdom
Sexual reproduction (varies, mitosis and
meiosis – usually in harsh enviro.)
Multicellularity (coordination among
specialized cells)
Complex flagella and cilia (as opposed to
simple seen in bacteria)
Protist diversity
Heterotrophic protists = protozoans, slime
molds, water molds, parasites
Photosynthetic protists = Algae
Some are classified further by how they
move:
Amoebas – pseudopodia
Ciliates – cilia, ex. paramecium
Flagellates – flagella, ex. Euglena
Algae – Green, Red and Brown
Strict autotrophs, some multicellular
Distinguished by type of pigment they contain
Red
Multicellular, warm ocean waters
Red pigment can absorb light in deep water
Brown
Multicellular, marine
Kelp, grows along coasts, food and shelter
Green
Most freshwater, uni and multicellular
Contains chlorophyll a and b
Green Algae
Phylum Chlorophyta
Most unicellular, can be filamentous or
colonial
Chlamydomonas – unicellular green algae
Spirogyra – filamentous green algae
Ulva – multicellular green algae (sea lettuce)
Volvox – colonial (loose association of
independent cells) green algae
Red Algae/Brown Algae
Phylum Rhodophyta
Economically important –
Agar
Wrappings around sushi
Emulsifying agent for production of chocolate
Phylum Phaeophyta
Contain chlorophylls a and c and carotinoid
Kelp, rockweed – grow along shoreline
Harvested for human food and fertilizers
Algin – pectin-like material added to icecream
Diatoms
Phylum Chrysophyta – includes golden-brown
algae and yellow-green algae
Photosynthetic, significant part of phytoplankton,
Important to food chain
Double shell made out of silica, like hat box
Move by excreting chemicals through Diatomaceous
earth –
abrasives
holes in shell
Found in oceans and lakes
Dinoflagellates
2 flagella, cellulose plates
Unicellular
Most are marine, make up part of the
plankton, important food source, producers
Some produce powerful toxins – “red tide”
Euglena
Freshwater, unicellular with 2 flagella
Some photosynthetic with chloroplasts and
has ability to ingest food as well
Pellicle – protein fiber inside cell membrane,
allows for flexibility and shape change
Eyespot – light sensitive organ, toward light
Contractile vacuole –
expels excess water
Zooflagellates
Mostly unicellular, hetertrophic protozoans
Symbiotic and parasitic forms
Trypanosomes – transmitted by tsetse fly
Causes African Sleeping Sickness
Giardia lamblia – cysts from contaminated
water, intestinal wall, severe diarrhea
Trichomonas vaginalis – STO, infects vagina
and urethra of women, prostate of males
Amoeba
Pseudopodia – false foot, cytoplasmic
extensions
Food vacuole – food enters and moves
throughout cell
Contractile vacuole – regulates water
Entamoeba histolytica – amoebic dysentery
Forams
marine protist that lives in sand or attaches to
other organisms
Tests – porous shells
Thin projections of cytoplasm extend through
pores and aid in swimming
Paramecium
Freshwater streams and ponds
Unicellular, heterotrophic
Cilia to move
Two nucluei
Macro – cell activities, includes DNA
Micro –cell reproduction, contains
chromosomes
Sporozoans – parasitic protists
Form spores during their reproductive cycle
Nonmotile, spore forming, unicellular
parasites
Malaria – anopheles mosquito, pg 392
Toxoplasma gondii – toxoplasmosis,
during pregnancy,
can affect fetus
Slime molds - decomposers
Cellular slime mold, small
Behave like amoebas
Ingest bacteria
During stress, form multicellular colonies
Plasmodial slime molds
Mass of cytoplasm that looks like ooze,
colorful
Eat bacteria and other organic material,
phagocytes
Water Molds
Filamentous decomposers
Parasitic to plants and animals in ecosystems
Cell wall contains cellulose, not chitin
Usually have furry growths
Responsible for potato famine in Ireland,
1840’s
Beneficial protists
Commensal protists that live in digestive
tracts of humans and livestock (hay,
cellulose)
Plankton – food, shelter, producers
Largest group of photosynthesizers
Abrasives
Detritivores – recycle chemicals in
environment
Symbiotic relationships - coral