21.3 Protists

Question 1

What is a protist?

Answer 1

eukaryotic organisms that are not plants, animals, fungi, or prokaryotes

Question 2

What are some characteristics of protists?

Answer 2

first eukaryotes on earth, both uni and multicellular

Question 3

Currently, we classify protists into the kingdom “Protista.” Explain why this needs to change.

Answer 3

Protista has more diversity than any other eukaryotic kingdom

Question 4

Amoeba

Answer 4

uses pseudopods for movement. moves cytoplasm to where it wants

Question 5

paramecium

Answer 5

uses cilia for movement. have many short hair-like projections that are like oars

Question 6

Euglena

Answer 6

use flagella for movement. 1-2 long tail structures

Question 7

asexual reproduction

Answer 7

cell division: limits genetic diversity but produces very fast

Question 8

sexual reproduction

Answer 8

Alternation of generations: reproduce both sexually and asexually

Question 9

conjugation

Answer 9

can become more genetically diverse without reproducing by exchanging DNA in stressful environments (ciliates like paramecium)

Question 10

environmental impacts

Answer 10

Complete half the earth’s photosynthesis. shelter and food for organisms, Mutualism is a relationship in which both organisms benefit

Question 11

mutualistic relationship

Answer 11

termites need the protist’s trychonymphia or they can’t digest wood

Question 12

parasitic relationship

Answer 12

protists entamoeba found in contaminated water