|
Plantlike Protists:
Unicellular Algae
- contain chlorophyll and
carry out photosynthesis
- commonly called algae
- four phyla: euglenophytes,
chrysophytes, diatoms, dinoflagellates
- accessory pigments help
absorb light, give algae a variety of colors
Euglenophytes
Euglena (See Euglena
Coloring Sheet )
live in water
have 2 flagella for movement
use chlorplasts for photosynthesis, but can turn into heterotrophs if
they are kept in the dark
has an eyespot used for sensing light and dark
pellicle - like a
cell wall, helps maintain their shapes
|
Chrysophytes
yellow-green algae,
"golden plants"

|
Diatoms
produce thin cell
walls of silicon, main component of glass

|
Dinoflagellates
Often have two
flagella
luminescent
|
Ecology of Unicellular
Algae
- make up the base of aquatic
food chains
- phytoplankton makes up half
of the photosynthesis that occurs on earth (oxygen)
- can cause Red Tides - algal
blooms - which are toxic

Plantlike Protists:
Red, Brown, Green Algae
Green Algae: Phylum Chlorophyta
Unicellular green algae, Colonial
(volvox), Multicellular (ulva, sea lettuce)
Spirogyra
live in water, multicellular
named after a spiral shaped chloroplast
autotrophic

Funguslike
Protists
- heterotrophs, decomposers
- called slime molds and water
molds
- water molds responsible
for the Irish Great Potato Famine

|