Kingdom Protista

Question 1

What is the primary characteristic of organisms classified as Protista?

Answer 1

The primary characteristic is that they are eukaryotic and mostly unicellular.
This is a kingdom for creatures that don’t fit elsewhere (kingdom of misfits).

Question 2

Name one example of a unicellular protist.

Answer 2

Example: Amoeba.

Question 3

Which kingdom do protists belong to?

Answer 3

Kingdom Protista

Question 4

True or False: Protists can be both unicellular and multicellular.

Answer 4

True, Most are unicellular, but some are multicellular.

Question 5

What are the three main groups of protists based on how they obtain nutrition?

Answer 5

1. Animal-like protists (protozoa) include ciliates, flagellates, and pseudopods. Draw food particles (bacteria, algae, etc.) towards a opening on the ciliate’s cell surface.
2. Plant-like protists (algae and kelp) get food from photosynthesis
3. Fungi-like protists (slime molds) get their nutrients from dead and decaying matter

Question 6

Give an example of a protist that moves using pseudopods.

Answer 6

Amoeba

Question 7

How do protists reproduce?

Answer 7

Protists reproduce through various methods including binary fission, multiple fission, conjugation, and sporulation.

Question 8

Which protist is responsible for causing malaria?

Answer 8

Plasmodium is responsible for causing malaria.

Question 9

What is the role of protists in marine ecosystems?

Answer 9

Protists play roles such as being primary producers, forming the base of the food chain, and contributing to the cycling of nutrients.

Question 10

True or False: Protists are all microscopic organisms.

Answer 10

False. While many protists are indeed microscopic, some are macroscopic and can be seen with the naked eye.

Question 11

Why are animal like protist not animals?

Answer 11

They may share some characteristics with animals, such as being heterotrophic and capable of movement. However: Animal-like protists (protozoa) aren’t animals for a simple reason: they’re single-celled organisms, while animals are multicellular. Animals are complex and have many cells working together for different functions, while protists do everything with just one cell

Question 12

Why are plant-like protists not plants?

Answer 12

Plant-like protists, though they may make their own food like plants, are not considered true plants for a simple reason: complexity. Plants are multicellular organisms with specialized tissues and organs (roots, stems, leaves), whereas plant-like protists are single-celled and lack these complex structures. Think of them as tiny food factories, not fully formed plants.

Question 13

Why are fungi-like protists not fungi?

Answer 13

Fungi-like protists aren’t true fungi because of their building materials. Fungi have cell walls made of chitin, while fungi-like protists use cellulose, similar to plants. Despite their feeding habits, the single-celled structure and different building blocks keep them separate from multicellular fungi.

Question 14

What size are protists?

Answer 14

Size Range: Protists can range from just a few nanometers (nm) to several centimeters (cm).

The vast majority of protists are microscopic, meaning you can’t see them with the naked eye.

Their size typically falls between 10 micrometers (µm) and 1 millimeter (mm).

Question 15

Diffusion:

Answer 15

Diffusion: The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration until equilibrium is reached.

Question 16

Osmosis:

Answer 16

Osmosis: The diffusion of water molecules across a semi-permeable membrane from an area of higher water concentration to an area of lower water concentration.

Question 17

Semi-permeable

Answer 17

Semi-permeable: Allowing certain molecules or ions to pass through while blocking others, based on size or charge.

Question 18

Concentration Gradient

Answer 18

Concentration Gradient: The difference in concentration of a substance between two regions, often leading to the movement of molecules from high to low concentration.

Question 19

Hypotonic

Answer 19

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes compared to another solution, causing water to move into the cell, potentially leading to cell swelling or bursting.

Question 20

Homeostasis

Answer 20

Homeostasis: The ability of an organism or cell to maintain internal stability and balance despite external changes or fluctuations in the environment.

Question 21

Ciliates: How do they move and capture food? Give an example of a Ciliate

Answer 21

How do ciliates move? Cilia
Food Capture: How do ciliates capture food? They use the current created by their cilia to draw in food particles towards their mouth opening (cytostome).
Examples: Paramecium, Stentor

Question 22

Flagellates How do they move and capture food? Give an example of a Flagellate?

Answer 22

Movement: How do flagellates move? Flagella
Food Capture: How do flagellates capture food? Some use flagella to create feeding currents, others are predatory or use pseudopodia to engulf food particles
Examples: Euglena, Trypanosoma

Question 23

Pseudopods How do they move and capture food? Give an example

Answer 23

How do pseudopods move and capture food? They extend finger-like projections of their cytoplasm called pseudopods to flow around and engulf food particles
Examples: Amoeba, Foraminifera

Question 24

What is the difference between a ciliate and a flagellate in terms of their movement structures?

Answer 24

Ciliates move using cilia, which are short, hair-like structures. Flagellates move using flagella, which are long, whip-like structures.

Question 25

Name a protists that might be harmful to humans?

Answer 25

Trypanosoma is a flagellate that causes sleeping sickness in humans. Malaria is caused by a single-celled Protist: Plasmodium

Question 26

Paramecium Structure (General Shape,

Answer 26

Paramecia are single-celled organisms, meaning all their vital functions are carried out within a single cell.

1. General Shape:
   Elongated, oval, or slipper-shaped
   Movement:
2. Covered in short, hair-like structures called cilia that beat rhythmically to propel the Paramecium through water.
3. Cell Membrane:
   Surrounded by a thin, flexible membrane called the pellicle. The pellicle provides structure and protection but allows for some flexibility.
   Cytoplasm:
4. Oral groove: A diagonal groove on the ventral (bottom) surface that leads to the cytostome (mouth opening).
   Food particles are drawn into the oral groove by the beating cilia and then engulfed into food vacuoles within the endoplasm for digestion.
5. Contractile vacuole: A pulsating organelle that removes excess water from the cell.
6. Food vacuoles: Sac-like structures within the endoplasm that hold food particles for digestion.
   Micronucleus (one or more): The smaller nucleus responsible for reproduction.
7. Macronucleus: The larger nucleus responsible for controlling cellular functions.
8. Trichocysts: Rod-shaped structures in the ectoplasm that can be discharged for defense.

Question 27

How Do Protozoa Get Around?

Answer 27

1. Flagella: whip-like structures called flagella that the beat to swim through water
2. Cilia: tiny hair-like structures used to propel themselves.
3. Pseudopods: “false feet” amoebas extend temporary extensions to push themselves forward and change direction
4. Some glide along surfaces using special structures or secretions.
5. Contractile vacuoles to regulate water and prevent swelling.

Question 28

Slime Molds (3 key points)

Answer 28

1. Slime molds move by crawling, flowing, and even pulsating, exhibiting behaviors similar to those of single-celled organisms.
2. Slime molds demonstrate remarkable problem-solving abilities and adaptive decision-making, as seen in their maze-solving and network-building behaviors.
3. They play vital ecological roles by decomposing organic matter and recycling nutrients in ecosystems, contributing to soil health.

Question 29

Kelp Forests (3 Key points)

Answer 29

1. Giant kelp, a type of seaweed, forms the foundation of these ecosystems, providing food and shelter for a wide array of species.
2. Kelp forests are important bc they support biodiversity and promote the health of coastal ecosystems.
3. Threats facing kelp forests include: pollution, climate change, and overfishing.

Question 30

Algae

Answer 30

Simple, nonflowering, and typically aquatic plants that lack true stems, roots, and leaves. Many types of algae, especially those that are unicellular or colonial, are placed within the Kingdom Protista.

Question 31

Photosynthesis:

Answer 31

The process by which green plants and some other organisms use sunlight to synthesize foods from carbon dioxide and water.

Question 32

Phytoplankton:

Answer 32

Microscopic algae that drift in the water and form the basis of the marine food chain.

Question 33

Chlorophyll

Answer 33

The green pigment found in algae and plants that enables them to photosynthesize

Question 34

Eutrophication

Answer 34

Eutrophication: The process by which a body of water becomes enriched in nutrients, often leading to excessive algae growth and ecosystem imbalance.

Question 35

Bioluminescence

Answer 35

Bioluminescence: The production and emission of light by living organisms, such as certain types of algae.

Question 36

Biodiesel

Answer 36

A renewable fuel made from organic matter, such as algae, that can be used as an alternative to fossil fuels.

Question 37

Protozoa

Answer 37

Protozoa: Single-celled organisms that exhibit animal-like behaviors, such as moving and eating.

Question 38

Euglena

Answer 38

Euglena: A type of protist that can be both autotrophic and heterotrophic, possessing both plant-like and animal-like characteristics.

Question 39

Paramecium

Answer 39

A ciliated protozoan that is commonly used in biological studies and exhibits complex behaviors such as feeding and moving using hair-like structures called cilia

Question 40

How to convert between nm, um, mm, m and km

Answer 40

Remember order: “Nikki Makes Marvelous Meters, Kilometers”

Divide by 1000 to the right, Multiply by 1000 to the left