Characteristics
Kingdom Protista This is the most diverse of all
kingdoms It can be unicellular or multicellular,
macro or microscopic, heterotrophs or autotrophs
They are eukaryotes. This is different than the bacteria.
Two Main Groups
PROTOZOANS- All one celled and animal-like
ALGAE-Plant-like (Do not have organs and tissue as advanced as plants)
Animal Like Protozoans move by cilia, flagella,
pseudopods or false-foot
There are four main groups: 1) ciliates 2) flagellates, 3) amoebas, 4) sporozoans (parasites)
Sporozoans cause Malaria.
Plant Like
Algae contains chlorophyll and many other pigments including purple, red, green, yellow, olive-brown.
This is how you classify the algae (by their pigmentation).
Photosynthesiszing unicellular phytoplankton produces 1/2 our oxygen!
There are six phylums in the Algae group: 3 unicellular and 3 multicellular
Unicellular = Euglenoids, Diatoms, Dinoflagellates
Multicellular= Red, Green, Brown
Dinoflagellates have two flagella and may have bioluminescence or a glowing effect. Red tide is also known as Fire Algae
Euglenoids are plant like with a flagellum
Diatoms are perfect geometric shapes with a silica shell. They are like glass boxes that open when they reproduce. The glass boxes go to the bottom of the ocean. These diatoms are put into toothpaste for their abrasive nature and on road paint for their reflective nature. Diatomaceous Earth is used to kill fleas and in pool filters
Red Algae is multicelled seaweed that is found deep in the ocean. It is used to thicken things like pudding, ice cream, cheese, salad dressing, marshmallows, and agar.
Brown algae is also known as kelp. It is in the salt water kelp forests
Green algae is what we are most familiar with. It is found everywhere and mainly in shallow water or moist areas.
Top Related