KINGDOM PROTISTA LAB
This Lab period you will be learning about the various types of protozoa. We will be focusing on phyla
that are either common or are of medial importance to humans. The Kingdom Protista is made up of
unicellular, colonial or multicellular organisms that were originally placed in the animal, plant and fungal
kingdoms.
PROTOZOA
TRYPANSOMA SPECIES
Examine a prepared slide of a typansoma species. These protozoa cause blood borne infections of humans
that can eventually lead to death of the host. In the space below draw what you see under the 40x
objective.
AMOEBA PROTEUS
Examine a prepared slide of a Amoeba proteus species. These protozoa are free living predators that eat
smaller organisms in their aquatic environment. In the space below draw what you see under the 40x
objective.
PLASMODIUM SPECIES
The plasmodiums cause the number one communicable disease in the world, malaria. While malaria is
considered to be a tropical disease it can be found as far north as Siberia and Manchuria. Plasmodium
vivax caused malaria in the southern portions of the United States until public health officials began a
mosquito irradication program early in the 20 th century. Malaria is a blood borne disease. Examine a
prepared slide of a Plasmodium species. Look for the malaria parasite in the red blood cell.
ALGAL PROTISTS
DIATOMS
The diatoms are the most numerous algae that are found in aquatic environments and form the base of
aquatic food chains. It is the diatoms found in city water supplies that give them their distinctive tastes.
Examine a prepared slide of a diatom. Draw what you see under 40x in the box below.
SPIROGYRA
The spirogyra are filamentous algae that contain spiral chloroplasts. They are common in freshwater
environments. Examine a prepared slide of spirogyra and draw what you see in the box below.
DESMIDS
Desmids are algae that appear to be two separate cells but are actually unicellular. If you look carefully
you can count 1 to 4 large chloroplasts. Examine a prepared slide of desmids and draw what you see
below.
POND WATER
Make a wet mount of the pond water and examine it under the microscope. Using the algae identification
book provided see if you can identify some of the species. Draw what you see below.