Name: _______________________________
Bacteria and Protists
Comparing Bacteria and Protists
Objective:
Describe the similarities and differences between bacteria and protists.
Procedure:
1. Read the handout titled, “Bacteria vs. Protists” on the Mott Classroom website (Unit 11).
2. Fill in the diagram below showing the similarities and differences of the characteristics of
bacteria and protists.
Include the following characteristics: single-celled or multicellular; autotrophic or
heterotrophic; how they move; type of environment they live in; asexual or sexual reproduction
Bacteria
Both
Protists
Bacteria Reproduction
Objective:
Describe how bacteria divide, and determine how many bacteria would result after three hours
of division.
Procedure:
1. Go to the Cells Alive website. There is a link to it on the Mott Classroom website (Unit 11).
2. Read about bacteria division.
3. Write a paragraph summary about how bacteria divide. Explain why the Earth is not overrun
with bacteria. Include a short description of the four phases.
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4. Click to view the 1760 x normal speed time-lapse video of “E.coli” reproduction.
5. Determine and record the solution to the following problem:
Salmonella bacteria, when grown under optimal conditions, will divide once every 20
minutes. If a tray begins with one salmonella cell, how many salmonella cells will be
present after three hours?
Answers: ______________________________________________
Beneficial Bacteria
Objective:
Describe four types of beneficial bacteria.
Procedure:
1. Write the words “beneficial bacteria” in the center of the graph below.
2. Read the four articles about beneficial bacteria provided for you on the Mott Classroom
website (Unit 11).
3. Fill in each space of the graph below with the name of a beneficial bacteria that you read
about.
4. Add one or two sentences to the graph describing how the bacterium is beneficial.
5. Below the graph, describe one way beneficial bacteria might contribute to maintaining the
health of an ecosystem.
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Harmful Bacteria
Objective:
Describe four types of harmful bacteria.
Procedure:
1. Write the words “harmful bacteria” in the center of the graph below.
2. Read the four articles about harmful bacteria provided for you on the Mott Classroom
website (Unit 11).
3. Fill in each space of the graph below with the name of a harmful bacteria that you read
about.
4. Add one or two sentences to the graph describing how the bacterium is harmful.
5. Below the graph, describe one way harmful bacteria might disrupt the health of an
ecosystem.
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Comparing Types of Protists
Objective:
Compare the characteristics of plant-like, fungus-like, and animal-like protists.
Procedure:
1. Visit the links on the Mott Classroom Website (Unit 11) to research the characteristics of
plant-like, fungus-like, and animal-like protists.
2. Fill in the chart below with the characteristics of each type of protist.
Type of
Protist
Plant-like
Animal-like
(protozoa)
Fungus-Like
Cell Type
(Uni-, Multi-,
colonial)
Feeding Type
(Heterotroph/
Autotroph)
Ability to Move
(if any, how?)
Method of
Reproduction
Examples
Harmful and Helpful Protists
Objective:
Conduct research to determine the effect of one harmful protist and one helpful protist on the
organisms and/or environment around them.
Procedure:
1. Select one harmful protist and one helpful protist form the list below.
Harmful Protists:
Helpful Protists:
plasmodium
red algae
trypanosome
kelp (kelp forests)
giardia
algae
2. Using the internet, research to discover the following:
a.) A brief overview of each protist.
b.) Determine the effect of each protist on the organisms and/or environment around it.
c.) Determine the effects of natural selection on the species and/or the ecosystem
involved.
3. Use the space below and the back of this page to organize your research.
4. Include a labeled drawing/graphic of each protist you research.
Response to External Factors
Objective:
Research and determine the optimal environmental conditions for one species of bacteria or
protist. Then, consider how a disruption in external factors may affect an individual or
population of this species.
Procedure:
1. Select one type of bacteria or protist from the list below.
Salmonella
E. coli
Rhizobium
Tuberculosis
Euglena
Amoeba
Slime mold
Downy mildew
Algae
Plasmodium
2. Conduct research to determine the optimal environmental conditions of this type of bacteria
or protist (temperature, moisture level, pH level, light, and/or food)
3. Write a 3-5 sentence summary explaining the optimal environmental conditions of the
organism type you chose.
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4. Consider what might happen to one individual or a population of this organism if one or
more of the conditions for optimal growth/survival were disrupted or if a catastrophic event
disrupted the organism. Write a 3-5 sentence paragraph on the back of this page explaining the
potential effects of the organism and its environment/ecosystem.