The Kingdom Protista – Notes
Name: _________________
I. The Kingdom Protista A. What is a ___________________?
1. Any __________________________ that is not an animal, plant, or fungus
a. Eukaryote – any unicellular or multicellular organism that has a nucleus and other
organelles within its cell or cells
2. Most __________________________, some multicellular.
II. Protists were the first eukaryotic organisms to evolve on Earth.
A. Lynn Margulis- hypothesized first ______________________ cell formed by a close relationship
among several ___________________________.
B. Many scientists agree that animals and plants evolved from protists.
III. Classification of Protists
A. Classified into 3 groups based upon how they obtain _______________________. Include: Animallike, Plant-like, and Fungus-like protists.
IV. _____________________- animal-like protists (Consumers) obtain food from environment
(consumers-they eat).
A. Ex: Paramecium and Amoeba
Paramecium – An animal-like protist (Protozoan)
Lysosome
-digestion
Micronucleus
–Back up
memory
Trichosysts protection
Macronucleus
– Daily
functions
Gullet stomach
Cilia movement
B. Importance of ______________________ (Animal – like Protists)
1. Cause many human _______________________ like African sleeping sickness and amoebic
dysentery (diarrhea)
V. __________________ molds and ____________________ molds- fungus-like protists are
consumers that obtain food by external digestion (this is weird). They secrete digestive enzymes onto
their food source and then absorb it. Eat and reproduce like fungi, but cell structure is like protists, no
chitin in cell walls.
A. Importance of Fungus-like Protists
 _________________________- important decomposers in forests and swamps
 __________________________ – decomposers in water, parasites on land.
1. Water mold Phytophthora infestans caused the Great Potato Famine in Ireland in 1845.
VI. _____________________- plant-like protists (producers) use sunlight to make food through the
process of photosynthesis
.
A. Ex: _________________________ Algae and Multicellular Algae
Euglena – A unicellular plant-like protist (Algae)
Chloroplast photosynthesis
Pellicle protections
Flagellamovement
EyespotDetects
light
Contractile
vacuole –water
removal
B. Importance of Unicellular Algae
1.________________________ ______________– all contain some type of chlorophyll, most
contain accessory pigments used for photosynthesis.
 Form the base of _____________________chains in the ocean as phytoplankton
 Carry out the majority of earth’s photosynthesis – produce most of Earth’s oxygen
2. ________________________- huge masses of algae quickly deplete nutrients in water; algal cells
quickly die in great numbers; their decay depletes the supply of oxygen in water; kills fish and
invertebrates
a. _____________ ____________- type of algal bloom that produce a potentially
dangerous toxin- shellfish can become full of the toxin- if eaten can cause serious illness,
paralysis, even death
C.
Importance of Multicellular Algae
1. _____________________source for many sea animals.
2. Home or refuge for many sea animals (kelp forests and Sargasso Sea).
3. Produce much of earth’s _________________________.
4. Human uses
 Source of vitamin C and ______________________ Wrap for _________________________.
 Additive for ________________________, pudding, candy bars.
 Chemicals from Algae used in plastics, waxes, deodorants, paints and lubricants.
 Some chemicals extracted from algae used to treat ulcers, high blood pressure, etc.
Name: _______________________________
Date: _______________________________
Lab Partner: __________________________
Water Sample: ______________________
Life In a Drop of Water: Water Survey
Use this handout to record your observations of single-cell organisms in your water sample. For each organism, record
the name, draw and label a sketch, and write a short description. Description could include physical observations,
movement, or special or unusual features. Answer the questions that follow.
Total Magnification:__________________________
Is it moving?_____________ if so, how?_________
Description:______________________________________
Organism’s Name______________________________
Total Magnification:__________________________
Is it moving?_____________ if so, how?_________
Description:______________________________________
Organism’s Name______________________________
Total Magnification:__________________________
Is it moving?_____________ if so, how?_________
Description:______________________________________
Organism’s Name______________________________
1. What are the three types of protists?
2. “Plant-like” protists are called ______________. How do they obtain their energy?
3. Name three methods that protist might use to move around.
4. Name Three reasons protist are important:
Dead in the Water
Every minute of
1. How does the fertilizer get into the Mississippi River?
every day….
Page 10
2. What does the fertilizer promote in the Gulf of Mexico?
3. How big is the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico at its largest?
Spring Blooms
Page 10
1.What is the active ingredient in the fertilizers?
2. What do nitrates do when they enter the water?
3. What is an algal bloom?
4. What does hypoxic mean?
5. How does the water become hypoxic?
Population Crash
Page 10-11
1.Where is the biggest dead zone located?
2. Why would the dead zone cause the shrimp population to crash?
Wetland Plan
Page 11
How do scientists plan to decrease the size of the dead zone?
What is a wetland?
What are the benefits of a wetland area?
Name_______________________
Pre-Write Activity
Problems (Cause)
Farm Lands
1.
Fertilizer
1.
Algal Bloom
1.
Hypoxic Water
1.
Red Tides
1.
Disrupted Ecosystem
1.
Economic decline
1.
Effect
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
1.
2.
Informative Letter to the Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is composed of ecologists who engage in decision making at various
levels of government. They work with federal agencies to create environmental laws that ensure preserving, utilizing,
and sustaining the American ecosystems. This organization works to communicate with the public the importance of
maintaining balanced ecosystems. Write an informative letter that addresses how the agricultural industries are
contributing to the occurrence of algal blooms off the coast of the United States and the effect it has had on marine
life. In your discussion, include several ideas that may resolve efforts for an ecological balance. In efforts to have a
larger voice, informing this organization of the problem will help in efforts to address the situation as well as expedite a
solution.
In your letter be sure to address the following
 The importance of algae and Protist in maintaining a healthy marine ecosystem.
 What is an algal bloom (and red tide) and how does it develop? Why is it occurring in the Gulf of Mexico?
 What are the effects of the algal blooms and red tides (On marine life, humans, economy, etc.). Be specific
and present many examples.
 What evidence can you share with the agency from your own experimentation on the effects of fertilizer on
aquatic life?
 What are some possible solutions? Be specific and explain several possible ways to resolve the problems
seen in the Gulf of Mexico.
You may want to make references to several of the articles you read. Make sure you include citations to any
references or quotes that you use from another source. (Kimbra Cutlip states it best in her article, Red Tide’s Weather
Trail, “___quote_____”. This is a great way to include examples from the text or support your information with
evidence.
Make sure you use all pre-writing materials to organize your thoughts. You may want to write a rough draft
and have someone look over it. Grammar and punctuation will be heavily weighted on your score. Providing
ample examples and evidence is the key to success on this assignment.
Dead in the Water
Every minute of
every day….
Page 10
4. How does the fertilizer get into the Mississippi River?
5. What does the fertilizer promote in the Gulf of Mexico?
6. How big is the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico at its largest?
Spring Blooms
Page 10
1.What is the active ingredient in the fertilizers?
2. What do nitrates do when they enter the water?
3. What is an algal bloom?
4. What does hypoxic mean?
5. How does the water become hypoxic?
Population Crash
Page 10-11
1.Where is the biggest dead zone located?
2. Why would the dead zone cause the shrimp population to crash?
Wetland Plan
Page 11
How do scientists plan to decrease the size of the dead zone?
What is a wetland?
What are the benefits of a wetland area?
While reading the passage below, answer the questions at the bottom.
An exerpt from “Red Tide” by Elizabeth Carlisle
In addition to these direct effects, hypoxia may explain another phenomena observed in the northern
Gulf of Mexico: red tides. These high concentrations of toxic phytoplankton share a complex relationship
with hypoxia. The presence of nitrogen and phosphorus, as well as the disrupted food chain of the Dead
Zone, create favorable conditions for cyanobacteria, microflagellates and dinoflagellates, organisms
responsible for the formation of red tides. These algal blooms in turn kill additional marine species by
paralyzing their respiratory systems. Of the thousands of species of microscopic algae comprising the base
of the marine food chain, approximately eighty-five species have been documented as being toxic.
Many toxic algae produce potent “neurotoxins” which can be transferred through the food web, affecting
or killing higher life forms, including zooplankton, shellfish, fish, birds, marine mammals, such as whales
and porpoises, and humans. These toxins accumulate in shellfish, such as clams, oysters, mussels, and
scallops in levels that are potentially lethal to consumers, including humans. Toxins can also accumulate in
the viscera of commercially important fish, including herring, mackerel, and sardines. These toxins
endanger human health if consumed, causing allergic reaction (skin and respiratory), nervous disorders, and
liver disorders. In addition, these fat-soluble toxins accumulate in human body tissue, suggesting the
possibility for long-term damage even in consumers who do not become obviously sick after eating
contaminated seafood. Toxins, whether contained in algae or released into open water, can move through
ecosystems in a manner similar to the flow of energy or carbon, as a wide variety of animals are known to
accumulate biotoxins and act as intermediate vectors to consumers at higher trophic levels; therefore these
toxins can have significant and widespread impacts. As algal toxins move through marine food webs, a
broad spectrum of effects on aquatic organisms in both inshore and offshore habitats results from both
chronic and acute exposure, and has been more evident in recent years.
1. The presence of nitrogen and phosphorus create favorable conditions for which organisms that are
the leading cause of red tides?
2. How do these types of algal blooms affect the marine species?
3. What are the toxins that these algae produce called?
4. What specific health problems can humans occur if consumed?
5. Explain how the toxins affect organisms found higher in the food chain and not just organisms
consuming the algae.
6. How could we bring the issue of the devastating affects of algal blooms to the attention to politicians
or environmentalist that could actually do something about it?
Name _____________________ Period ___________ Date ________
Dead in The Water Lab
Introduction: The the article “Dead in The Water” discussed a major ecological problem occuring in the
Gulf of Mexico as a result of large amounts of fertilizer running off into the Mississippi River. In this lab,
you will simulate the effects fertilizer has on life in pond water, just as scientists have viewed these effects
on the marine life in the gulf of Mexico.
Prelab Questions:
1.Why has the geographic location of the Mississippi River made it so prone to fertilizer runoff?
2. What does hypoxic mean?
3. How do algal blooms create hypoxic waters in the Gulf of Mexico? Be specific.
4. How has this affected certain species of organisms in this habitat?
Lab Procedure:
1. Set up three jars of pond water that was collected from the same pond.
2. Label the three jars, A, B, and C.
3. Over the course of three weeks:
a. add zero drops of fertilizer in jar A each week.
b. add 5 drops of fertilizer to jar B each week.
c. add 10 drops of fertilizer to jar C each week.
4. Over the course of the three weeks, make observations such as water turbitity and other visual
observations about the jars.
5. After three weeks have gone by, take samples of each of the jars to observe the amount of life found
in each sample. Compare these to your initial observations at the beginning of this unit.
Problem: How does fertilizer runoff affected pond water ecosystems?
What did you observe in the sample that does not have any fertilizer?
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______
Hypothesis:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
________.
Controls:_______________________________________________________________________________
___
Manipulated Variable:
_______________________________________________________________________
Data:
Day #_________
Jar A: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar B: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar C: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Other Observations:
__________________________________________________________________________
Day #_________
Jar A: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar B: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar C: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Other Observations:
__________________________________________________________________________
Day #_________
Jar A: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar B: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar C: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Other Observations:
__________________________________________________________________________
Day #_________
Jar A: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar B: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Jar C: Turbidity ___________ PH level __________ Dissolved Oxygen Level ___________
Other Observations:
__________________________________________________________________________
Make some observations about what you see in each of the three jars.
Jar A:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_________
Jar B:
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_________
Jar C
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_________
Conclusion: Refer to your hypothesis and make a conclusion statement on the effect fertilizer has on the
life in pond water.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
______
Cellular Energy
Follow the instructions carefully to complete your cellular energy diagram
Photosynthesis:
1. Fold your paper in half so that there is a fold line going down the middle.
2. On the left side of the paper, title the side photosynthesis.
3. Draw a chloroplast on the photosynthesis side and color it green because the chloroplyll pigments
make the chloroplast green.
4. The ultimate source of energy is the sun, and the sun is what begins the process of photosynthesis.
Draw the sun and arrows coming from the sun into the chloroplast.
5. The chloroplast also needs carbondioxide and water for photosynthesis to occur. Draw the
chloroplast obtaining H20 and CO2.
6. Once the chloroplast obtains carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight, it gives off Oxygen and Glucose.
Draw arrows coming from the chloroplast giving off oxygen and glucose. These two items will
move over to the other half of your paper.
Cellular Respiration:
1. Title the right side of the paper Cellular Respiration.
1. On the right side of your paper, draw a mitochondria and color it orange. The mitochondria works
together with the chloroplast by breaking down glucose (sugar) made during photosynthesis.
2. The mitochondria needs glucose and oxygen for cellular respiration to take place. Continue the
arrows from the left side of the paper over to the mitochondria showing that the glucose and oxygen
made from photosynthesis goes to the mitochondria.
3. The mitochondria breaks down the glucose using the oxygen and gives off ATP (cellular
energy). Show this coming off the mitochondria.
4. The mitochondria also gives off carbondioxide and water during this process. These two products
can be used for photosynthesis again. Have these two products come from the mitochondria back
over to the chloroplast.
Write this equation on the photosynthesis side of your diagram
6CO
+
(Carbondioxide +
6H2O + light  C6H12O6 +
water
+
light
=
Glucose
6O2
+ Oxygen)
Write this equation on the cellular respiration side of your diagram.
C6H12O6 + 6O2 
Glucose
+
oxygen =
6CO2
carbondioxide
+
+
6H2O + ATP
water
+ energy
On the back of your paper answer the following questions:
1. Where does photosynthesis take place in the cell?
2. Where does cellular respiration take place in the cell?
3. What is needed for photosynthesis?
4. What are the products of photosynthesis?
5. What is needed for cellular respiration?
6. What are the products of photosynthesis?
7. How do the chloroplast and mitochondria work together in the cell?
Map out Your Letter
The following is a suggested guideline of how to map out your letter. Use your research and articles to
help organize your thoughts for each paragraph of your letter. The more evidence and supporting
thoughts, the stronger your letter will be.
Introduction to Algae
Solutions
Problem
Effects on Mari
The Evidence
Cause and effect:
It is important to explain in detail the effect fertilizer has on marine ecosystems. As you have seen, the fertilizer running off in the
Mississippi River leads to a chain of events. In short “one thing leads to another”. Use this pre-write activity to understand how
faming practices ultimately lead to devastating marine ecosystems.
Problem: Farmlands are located on fertile lands along the Mississippi River.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem: The Mississippi River flows into the Gulf of Mexico.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Eff
Problem: The active ingredient in fertilizers is nitrates.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem: Algal blooms block sunlight from penetrating the water.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem: Lots of plants and algae that need sunlight die and sink to the bottom of the ocean.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem: Not enough oxygen is in the water to support life.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem: Red Tides release poisonous toxins into the water.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem: Beaches and waters are closed for fishing and tourist.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Problem:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.
Effect:
______________________________________________________________________________________.