protista 2 Flashcards
(57 cards)
Q: What is the meaning of the word ‘Protista’ and why are they considered the first eukaryotic organisms?
A: ‘Protista’ is derived from the Greek word ‘protistos’ meaning ‘the very first,’ and they are considered the first eukaryotic organisms because they are considered precursors and links between plants, animals, and fungi. And you
Q: List three key characteristics that define organisms of the kingdom Protista.
A: - Membrane-enclosed nucleus and organelles (eukaryotic). - Mostly unicellular, some colonial or multicellular. - Mode of nutrition can be autotrophic, heterotrophic, or saprophytic.
Q: Which protist phylum includes organisms that reproduce mainly by asexual means and possess pseudopodia, cilia, or flagella?
A: Phylum Sarcomastigophora (Sarcodina and Mastigophora).
Q: Fill in the blank: Protozoa are mostly __________, heterotrophic, and can hunt or ambush small organisms for food.
A: single-celled
Q: True or False: All protozoa have tissues and organs like higher animals.
A: False. Protozoa form no tissues or organs, only specialized organelles.
Q: [Image of Euglena with labels for flagellum, chloroplast, nucleus, pellicle] - Label the parts of Euglena.
A: (Labels: Flagellum, Chloroplast, Nucleus, Pellicle). Euglena is a flagellated, color-green protist that can perform photosynthesis due to chloroplasts but can also be heterotrophic.
Q: Describe the main habitat and size range of protozoa.
A: They are found almost everywhere—aquatic or terrestrial, free-living or symbiotic—with sizes ranging from about 2 micrometers to 50 millimeters in shell-covered marine forms.
Q: What are pseudopodia, and name two types found in protozoa?
A: Pseudopodia are temporary cytoplasmic extensions used for movement and feeding; types include lobopodia (Amoeba) and reticulopodia (Globigerina).
Q: Which protist group is characterized by producing their own food through photosynthesis?
A: Algae (plant-like protists), such as Euglena and Volvox.
Q: [Image of Amoeba with pseudopodia extended] - Identify the type of pseudopodia shown.
A: Lobopodia. These are blunt, lobe-like pseudopodia used for movement and engulfing food.
Q: Fill in the blank: The body of an amoeba is covered by a membrane called the __________.
A: pellicle
Q: Which protozoan causes amoebic dysentery and feeds on tissues and blood?
A: Entamoeba histolytica.
Q: Name two examples of multicellular or colonial protists.
A: Volvox (colonial algae) and Kelps (multicellular seaweed).
Q: [Diagram of a Foraminiferan shell with pseudopodia extending] - What structure do foraminiferans produce, and what is its composition?
A: They produce calcium carbonate shells (tests) with pseudopodia extending through pores, aiding in movement and feeding.
Q: How do Radiolarians differ from Foraminiferans in skeleton composition?
A: Radiolarians have silica skeletons, while Foraminiferans have calcium carbonate shells.
Q: [Image occlusion: A diagram of Apicomplexa with labeled organelles (apical complex, nucleus, plastid)] - Fill in the labels and identify the significance of the apical complex.
A: The apical complex is a structure at the apex of apicomplexans that aids in penetrating host cells, critical for parasitic invasion.
Q: Which protist group includes the malaria parasite Plasmodium?
A: Apicomplexa.
Q: Fill in the blank: The life cycle of Plasmodium includes stages like __________ in human liver cells and blood.
A: schizonts (schizogony).
Q: What is the function of the apicoplast in Apicomplexa, and what is its origin?
A: The apicoplast is involved in fatty acid and isoprenoid synthesis; it is believed to be a remnant of a secondary endosymbiotic event with a chloroplast-containing alga.
Q: [Image of Vorticella with stalk and bell shape] - What are the main features of Vorticella?
A: It has a stalk for attachment, an inverted bell-shaped body called a zooid, covered with cilia, and uses its cilia to sweep food into its oral cavity.
Q: Name two protozoa that move using cilia and describe their general structure.
A: Paramecium and Vorticella; both are covered with rows of cilia that help in movement and feeding.
Q: Which protist group is known for having two types of nuclei (macro- and micro-nucleus) and reproduces mainly through conjugation?
A: Ciliates (Class Ciliophora).
Q: [Image of Paramecium showing macronucleus and micronucleus] - Identify and describe the roles of the nuclei.
A: The macronucleus controls vegetative functions; the micro- (or micronucleus) is involved in reproductive processes like conjugation.
Q: Fill in the blank: The ability to move by cilia is characteristic of the phylum __________.
A: Ciliophora.
