Protists
What is a protist?
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● lassical definition:all eukaryotes that are notanimals, plants, or fungi.
● Why this is a problem:this grouping ismassivelyparaphyletic.
○ Paraphyletic= a group that leaves out some descendantsthat should be
included if you are grouping by common ancestry.
○ In other words, “protists” are not one natural branch on the tree of life.
● Common traits used to describe protists (not absolute rules):
○ Eukaryotic(have a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles)
○ Generally unicellular(single-celled)
○ Generally aquatic(water-based habitats are common)
○ No true tissue(not organized into complex tissueslike plants/animals)
“Protist groups” (informal categories)
rotists are often described in3 rough groupsbasedon how they live, but these areinformal
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andnot inclusive(they do not capture true evolutionaryrelationships).
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1 nimal-like protists=protozoans
2. Fungus-like protists= e.g.,oomycetesandmyxomycetes
3. Plant-like protists=algae
Animal-like protists: Protozoans
What are protozoans?
● Protozoansare protists that areanimal-like in behaviorand metabolism.
○ Motile(able to move)
○ Heterotrophic(obtain energy by eating/absorbing organicmatter rather than
photosynthesis)
● Key contrast with animals:protozoans areunicellular,while animals are multicellular.
● Historically, protozoans were groupedinformallybyhow they move.
Protozoan movement (locomotion)
Protozoans have4(ish)main modes of movement:
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1 lagella
2. Cilia
3. Pseudopods
4. …other(some use different or less common strategies)
Important note:We now know these movement typesevolved multiple times(convergent
evolution), so grouping by locomotion doesnotreflecttrue ancestry.
Flagellates (zooflagellates)
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● ove usingone or more flagella(long, whip-like structures).
● Sometimes called“zooflagellates.”
● Why they matter:includes important parasites.
○ Giardia
○ Trichomonas
Ciliates
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● ove using manycilia(short, hair-like projectionsthat beat in coordinated waves).
● Widespread/commonin aquatic environments.
● Examples:
○ Paramecium caudata
○ Paramecium bursaria
Amoeboids
● Move usingpseudopodia(“false feet”).
○ Pseudopods areextensions of cytoplasmused for movementand often
feeding.
● Amoebais a famous example genus.
● Some amoeboids are:
○ “naked”(no covering)
○ testate(produce ashell/test)
Sporozoans (Apicomplexa)
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● lso calledApicomplexa.
● Havemultiple life cycle stageswith different forms.
● Major diseases caused by apicomplexans:
○ Malaria(caused byPlasmodium)
○ Toxoplasmosis(caused byToxoplasma gondii)
Protozoan reproduction
Protozoans can reproduceasexuallyandsexually.
● Asexual reproduction:binary fission
○ One cell splits into two genetically identical cells.
● Sexual reproduction:conjugation
○ Cells exchange genetic material.
○ This increases genetic variation.
Fungus-like protists
What makes them “fungus-like”?
hese are loose groupings of protists thatlook/actlike fungi, especially in how they feed and
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reproduce.
Common characteristics:
● Saprophyticorparasitic(both areheterotrophic)
○ Saprophytic= decomposer, feeds on dead/decaying material.
○ Parasitic= feeds on a living host.
● Reproduce usingspores
● Often grow in thread-likehyphae(filamentous structures)
Two major examples emphasized:
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1 ater molds (oomycetes)
2. Slime molds (myxomycetes)
Water molds (Oomycetes)
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● eterotrophic
● Grow as long, thread-like structures, usuallymulticellular
● Reproduce with spores:
○ Asexualand/orsexualreproduction
● Important pathogen example:
○ Phytophthora infestans
■ Causespotato blight(historically devastating plantdisease)
Slime molds (Myxomycetes)
“ Slime molds” includeseveral distantly related groups(not one neat clade).
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● Heterotrophic
● Can reproduce:
○ Sexually
○ Asexually
● Cellularity is complicated/variable(the slide notes:Cellularity: ???)
○ This reflects that slime molds can have unusual life cycles and body forms
compared with typical single-celled or multicellular organisms.
Plant-like protists: Algae
What are algae?
● lant-like protistsare often calledalgae.
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● Autotrophic(make their own food, typically via photosynthesis).
● Can beunicellularup tolarge multicellularforms.
● They are majoraquatic producers(important base ofaquatic food webs).
● Land plants are closely related to green algae.
● All algae havechlorophyll, plus additional pigmentsthat cause different colors.
○ Extra pigments help capture different wavelengths of light, especially underwater.
Red algae (Rhodophyta)
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● ontainrhodophyll, a red pigment.
● Make up a large portion ofmarine seaweed.
○ Few freshwater examples.
● One of theoldestgroups of algae.
● Includecoralline algae, which contribute toreefdevelopment.
○ Coralline algae can deposit calcium carbonate and help build/strengthen reefs.
Green algae (Chlorophyta)
● heancestral clade of land plants(closest relativeshighlighted here).
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● Contain primarilychlorophyll.
● Mostlyfreshwater(about~90%of species).
● Mainlymicroscopic.
Brown algae (Phaeophyta)
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● avechlorophyllplus brown/olive-green pigments.
● Mostlymulticellular, includingvery largespecies.
● Examples can form major marine habitats:
○ Kelpforests
○ Sargassummats
● Tend to be found inrelatively cool marine waters.
Dinoflagellates
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● icroscopic,flagellatedalgae.
● Many colors, but oftengolden-brown.
● Important ecological role:
○ Zooxanthellae(a dinoflagellate group) are crucialsymbionts with corals.
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ymbiosis = close relationship where both partners may benefit (corals
get sugars; dinoflagellates get shelter/nutrients).
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● ome dinoflagellates cause harmful algal blooms:
○ Red tides(can be dangerous due to toxins and oxygendepletion).
Diatoms
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● ighly diverse andmicroscopic.
● Mostlybrownandgolden brown.
● Producesilicate tests(glass-like shells made ofsilica).
○ These tests are often beautifully patterned and help protect the cell.
Euglenoids (Euglena)
● classic example isEuglena.
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● Autotrophic(havechlorophyll).
● Flagellated and motile(can swim).
● “They can see!”
○ Euglenoids have a light-sensing structure (eyespot) that helps them move toward
light for photosynthesis.