Name:______________________Period:_____Date:____ The protista are alive. They will not
Unicellular Organisms
Background: Multicellular organisms such as
plants and animals are made up of many cells.
These organisms feed, eliminate waste,
reproduce, grow and respond to the
environment.
stay still. Be patient and move the
slide slowly until you find an
organism(s) to observe.
NOTE: If your protist is NOT
moving, ask for another sample OR
observe a classmate’s sample. You are
required to observe FOUR living
specimens during lab.
The protista we will observe are one-celled organisms that carry out
all of the processes of life in a single cell. They too respond to the
environment (hot, cold, light, dark); they feed, reproduce, grow, etc.
Some of the protista are consumers and others producers.
Purpose: In this lab you will observe the structures, behavior and movement of paramecia,
amoeba, euglena, and volvox. Movement in protista occurs by amoeboid movement (cytoplasm
moves), or by flagellum (whip-like structure), or cilia (tiny hairs that move like oars)
Note: Information and illustrations from chapter 7 (Protista) in the textbook, as well as
information from the internet will be necessary for the completion of this lab.
GSE: LS1 (9-11) Use data and observation to make connections between, to explain, or to justify how specific cell organelles
produce/regulate what the cell needs or what a unicellular or multi-cellular organism needs for survival
Procedures:
Volvox
1. Place 1 drop of volvox medium in the center of a clean slide.
2. Place slide on microscope. Start at lowest magnification, focus and then increase the
magnification until volvox is clear.
3. Draw the volvox at the highest magnification at which you observed them. Drawn at:
______________________________magnification.
4. Record a description of volvox movement on the data table.
Amoeba
5. Place 1 drop of amoeba medium in the center of a clean slide..
6. Place slide on microscope. Start at lowest magnification, focus, and then increase the
magnification without allowing the objective to touch the specimen.
7. Draw an amoeba moving from one location to another. Drawn at:
______________________________magnification.
8. Record a description of amoeba movement on the data table.
Euglena
9. Place 1 drop of euglena medium in the center of a clean slide.
10. Place slide on microscope. Find euglena using low power (100x) and focus. Then increase
the magnification to the highest objective at which you can see the euglena clearly.
11. Observe the movement of the euglena. On your observation table, describe its method of
movement and relative speed with close attention to detail. (The words “fast and slow”
will NOT be enough of a description.)
12. Draw the euglena at the highest magnification at which you are able to observe it. Be
sure to include all observable structures. (I will be looking at the accuracy of the shape
and size of your illustration.) Drawn at: ____________magnification
13. Record a description of euglena movement on the data table.
Stentor
14. Repeat steps 9-13 with Stentor.
Spirostomum
15. Repeat steps 9-13 with Spirostomum.
Paramecium
16. Repeat steps 9-13 with the paramecia.
17. Add one drop of yeast cells to the slide. Stir gently with a toothpick. Observe the
feeding behavior of the paramecia among the yeast cells. Record observations. Clean
slide.
18. Record a description of paramecium movement on the data table.
Drawings: Include labels of visible structures (use textbook and/or internet)
Volvox Magnif _______
Note the
magnification
of each of
your drawings!
Amoeba Magnif_______________
Euglena Magnif ___________
Stentor Magnif_____________
Spirostomum Magnif____________
Paramecium Magnif_______________
Observations: (Note – the words “fast and slow” will not be enough of a
description.)
Species
Observations
Volvox
Description of movement:
Amoeba
Description of movement:
Chloroplasts
Yes/No
Species
Observations
Euglena
Description of movement:
Stentor
Description of movement:
Spirostomum
Description of movement:
Paramecia
Description of movement:
Behavior after addition of yeast.
Chloroplasts
Yes/No
Submit the following: This is not a formal lab—Answer the questions in full
sentences. Type your report.
A. Observations:
1. Type your observation table. Neat and accurate spelling (8 pts)
2. Submit drawings made in class – Label drawings: include visible parts as seen in
lab. (8 pts)
*If you are having difficulty
describing the movement
of the protista find a
video of their movement
on the internet to
observe.
B. Conclusions: Use textbook and internet to find this
information. Full sentences required.
1. Movement: (8 pts)
 Volvox - Name and describe the structure
used by the protist for movement. Explain how the structure functions.
 Amoeba - Name and describe the structure used by the protist for
movement. Explain how the structure functions.
 Euglena - Name and describe the structure used by the protist for
movement. Explain how the structure functions.
 Stentor – Name and describe the structure used by the protist for
movement. Explain how the structure functions.
 Spirostomum- Name and describe the structure used by the protist for
movement. Explain how the structure functions.
 Paramecium - Name and describe the structure used by the protist for
movement. Explain how the structure functions.
2. Feeding (9 pts) Full sentences required.
a) Which of the protista had chloroplasts?
b) If a protist has chloroplasts, is it a consumer or a producer? Explain.
c) Which of the protista are consumers? Explain.
d) a) Which of the protista is both a consumer and producer?
b) Explain how being both a consumer and a producer works.
c) What is the function of this organism’s eyespot? How does the eyespot
help it?
e) How do the consumers (observed in lab) ingest their food? Describe the
specialized structures used by each for consumption.
f) What is the natural habitat of all of the organisms observed in the lab?
C. Multicellular vs. Unicellular organisms: (2 pts)
In this lab one-celled protista were observed. In a paragraph explain how a onecelled organism is both similar and different from a single cell (example: nerve
cell) in a multi-celled organism.