Prokaryotes, Eukaryotic Algae, and Protozoans

Prokaryotes
organisms without a cell nucleus (= karyon),
or any other membrane-bound organelles.
(Most are unicellular, but some prokaryotes
are multicellular)
Eukaryotes
organisms whose cells are organized into
complex structures by internal membranes
and a cytoskeleton
The most characteristic membrane bound
structure is the nucleus
Can be multi- or unicellular

Domain (Eu)Bacteria
Clade Cyanobacteria
Photosynthetic blue-greens

Gloeocapsa colonies

Important Examples:
Nostoc

Nostoc. Pointer indicates

heterocyst cell for N-fixation.

Unicellular, beaded strands

Able to fix nitrogen (important nutrient competitor)

Oscillatoria

Very common locally

Filamentous strands of rectangular cells

Gloeocapsa

Very small colonies of 2 4 cells in gelatinous sheath

Oscillatoria. Good view of
rectangular cells.

Domain (Eu)Bacteria
Clade Proteobacteria
Aquaspirillum

One of the largest bacteria, though its difficult to find under high-power using a
compound microscope
Spiral-shaped (hence name)

Domain Eukarya
Clade [Kingdom] Plantae
Clade (Phylum) Chlorophyta green algae
Spirogyra
Spiral-shaped chloroplasts

Zygnema
Star-shaped chloroplasts

Endosymbiotic
Cyanobacteria

Domain Eukarya
Clade [Kingdom] Plantae
Clade (Phylum) Chlorophyta green algae
Desmids
Composed of two half-cells that are mirror images.
Cosmarium
Closterium

Micrasterias

Synura. Free-living (right)

& colony (below)

Domain Eukarya
Clade Stramenopila
Clade (Phylum) Chrysophyta
Golden-Brown Algae
Often flagellated, form colonies
Synura

Diatoms
Cell walls composed of silica
Navicula
Cyclotella

Navicula.

Cyclotella.

Domain Eukarya
Clade Alveolata
Clade (Phylum) Dinoflagellata
Flagellated use whip-like tail for feeding, locomotion
Dinos spin or move in small circles

Red/brown color
Can be photosynthetic or predatory
plate of armor covering gives them an unusual appearance
Give rise to red tides when in large numbers

Red tide!

Peridinium

Domain Eukarya
Clade (Phylum) Ciliata
Characterized by their cilia hair-like projections used for feeding or
locomotion
Paramecium
Engulf prey with their oral groove gives them their spiral-like shape
Some species have photosynthetic symbionts, but Paramecium themselves are predators

Euplotes

Have spike-like modified cilia

Wicked predators

Domain Eukarya
Clade Euglenozoa
Have superior flagella for locomotion and feeding
Can create water vortexes for filter-currents

Some are photosynthetic

Red eye spot can detect light for directionality
Euglena

Domain Eukarya
Clade Amoebozoa
Lack an outer body wall; move by extending their body cytoplasm (these
projections = pseudopodia)
Pseudopodia caused by a chain reaction of actin proteins expanding &
contracting (they feed like this, too!)
Difflugia
Protects its fragile body by creating a shell of sand & detritus

Domain Eukarya
Clade Rhizaria
Thread-lobed amoebas
Actinopoda include Heliozoans (sun animals) that have threads of
pseudopodia extending through their silica/calcium carbonate shells
Actinosphaerium