Protists
• Kingdom – Protista
• Characteristics
1. Unicellular
2. Eukaryotic
3. Many live as single cells or solitary
4. Some are colonial or live in groups
4 Phyla of Animal-like Protists
• 1. Cilophora (cilia bearing) Ex: paramecium
Organelles of Cilophora
• Cilia – hair like projections
• Trichocysts – spiney projections used for
defense
• Gullet – obtains food
• Anal Pore – waste materials emptied
• Contractile Vacuole – pumps out excess H2O
Animal-Like Protists
• 2. Zoomastigina – (flagella moving) Ex:
Giardia, Trichomonas, Trypanosoma
• Giardia
Zoomastigina Cont.
• Trichomonas
Zoomastigina Cont.
• Trypanosoma
Zoomastigina Characteristics
• Flagella – whip-like structures used for
movement
• Absorb food through membranes
• Reproduce by binary fission and sexual
reproduction
Animal-like Protists Cont.
• 3. Sporozoa (spore producing) Ex. Plasmodium
(causes malaria)
• Plasmodium
Sporoza Characteristics
• Non-motile – do not move
• All are parasitic (live in a host and cause it
harm)
• Reproduce by spores
• Usually live life cycle in several hosts
Animal-like Protists Cont.
• 4. Sarcodina – (false foot) Ex: Amoeba,
Entamoeba, heliozoans, radiolarians,
foraminifers
• Pseudopod- a false foot, motile, moves with
cytoplasmic projections
• Has no definite shape, very flexible, active
cells with cell walls
• They eat by surrounding their food
• Reproduce by binary fission
• Amoebas:
• Heliozoans
• Radiolarians – secrete shells of silica
• Foraminifers – secrete shells of calcium
5 Phyla of Plant-Like Protists
• 1. Euglenophyta (flagellates with chloroplasts)
Ex. Euglena
Euglenophyta Cont.
• They have chloroplasts
• Have eyespot – helps them find bright areas
• They are usually autotrophs (can be
heterotroph when sunlight is not avaiable)
• Very common protist
Plant Like Protists Cont.
• 2. Pyrophyta (fire protists) Ex. Dinoflagellates
Examples of Dinoflagellates – plankton and
phytoplankton
Pyrophyta Cont.
• Most are unicellular
• Many are luminescent (they give off light if
agitated)
• They have bizarre shapes
Plant-Like Protists Cont.
• 3. Chrysophyta (golden protists)
Examples: yellow green algae, golden brown
algae, diatoms
• cell walls contain pectin instead of cellulose
• Store food as oil rather than starch
• Reproduce sexually and asexually
Chrysophyta Cont.
• Yellow green algae
Chrysophyta Cont.
• Golden brown algae (sargassum)
Chrysophyta Cont.
• Diatoms
Plant-Like Protists Cont.
• 4. Acrasiomycota (cellular slime mold)
• 5. Myxomycota (acellular slime mold)
• The slime molds appear amoeba-like and
produce spores
Cellular Slime Mold
Acellular Slime Mold
Diseases Caused by Protists
• 1. Malaria – caused by a plasmodium, and
transmitted by mosquitos
• 2. African Sleeping Sickness – caused by
trypanosoma, and transmitted by tsetse fly
• 3. Amebic Dysentery – caused by entamoeba,
transmitted by contaminated food and water
Helpful Protists
• 1. Trichonympha – lives in the digestive enzymes of
termites/wood roaches and they digest the
cellulose because the termites/roaches can not
• 2. Some protists serve as food for larger animals in
oceans, ponds, and lakes
• 3. Dinoflagellates – allow tiny animals that make
coral to live with them allowing coral to grow in
areas with low nutrients
Harmful Protists
• Dinoflagellates Blooms – they emit a toxin
that can kill fish and dolphins
• More than 70% of photosynthesis that occurs
on Earth goes on near the surface of the
ocean. It helps provide lots of oxygen and food
for ocean life