11.

3 KINGDOM PROTISTA
 LEARNING OUTCOMES
• Describe the unique characteristics of Protista

• State the classification of Protista into:

(i) 2 major phyla of Algae;
- Chlorophyta (Chlamydomonas sp.)
- Phaeophyta (Fucus sp.)

(ii) 4 major phyla of Protozoa;

- Euglenophyta (Euglena sp.)
- Rhizopoda (Amoeba sp.)
- Ciliophora (Paramecium sp.)
- Apicomplexa (Plasmodium sp.)
 What is the similarity and difference
between protists and other eukaryotes ?
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PROTISTA
• All are eukaryotic cells/ eukaryotes
• Diverse in cell organization
– Most are unicellular
– Colonial unicellular
– Some are simple multicellular (simple body
without specialized tissue)
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PROTISTA
• Various modes of nutrition
i) Photoautotrophs (e.g. algae)
ii) Heterotrophs
- ingestive e.g. protozoa
- absorptive e.g. fungus-like
protists
iii)Mixotrophs
- combine photosynthesis and
heterotrophic nutrition mode
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PROTISTA
• Mostly are free living
• Others as symbionts (interaction with other
organism,) :-
– Mutualism (both species get benefit)
– Commensalism (protist gets benefit, the
other one is unaffected)
– Parasitism (parasitic protist inhabits in @
on host cell, gets benefit but the host cell
harmed)
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTICS OF
PROTISTA
• Reproduction
– Some reproduce asexually
– Others reproduce sexually or asexually
Paramecium sp.
Euglena sp.
Chlamydomonas sp.
 CLASSIFICATION OF PROTISTA
Divided into :

Algae Protozoa

Chlorophyta Euglenophyta

Phaeophyta Rhizopoda
Ciliophora
Apicomplexa
 ALGAE
Two major phyla:

CHLOROPHYTA PHAEOPHYTA
(Green algae) (Brown algae)
e.g. Chlamydomonas sp. e.g. Fucus sp.
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC OF ALGAE
*Plant like protist
• Diverse in cell organization
–Unicellular (e.g. Chlamydomonas sp.)
–Simple multicellular (e.g. Fucus sp.)

• Have cell wall

 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC OF ALGAE
• Autotroph
–Have photosynthetic pigments

• Show alternation of generation

–In one life cycle, alternates between
(gametophyte) haploid generation and
(sporophyte) diploid generation
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC OF ALGAE
• May reproduce sexually or asexually

Chlamydomonas sp.
Reproduction in Fucus sp.
 ALGAE : PHYLUM CHLOROPHYTA
• Green algae, e.g. Chlamydomonas sp.
 ALGAE: PHYLUM PHAEOPHYTA
• Brown algae, e.g. Fucus sp.
 PHYLUM : PHYLUM : PHAEOPHYTA
CHLOROPHYTA
Green algae Brown algae
Dominant Dominant photosynthetic
photosynthetic pigments: Fucoxanthin
pigments: chlorophyll a
and chlorophyll b
Store food: Starch in Store food: Laminarin and
plastid mannitol
Cell organization: Cell organization:
Unicellular eukaryotes Multicellular eukaryotes
Shape: Pear shaped Shape: Thallus shaped
 PHYLUM : PHYLUM : PHAEOPHYTA
CHLOROPHYTA
Red stigma @eye spot : Root like: holdfast,
detect change in light anchor algae
intensity, help direct its
Stem like: stipe support
motility blade &can withstand
Cup shape chloroplast wave
contain pyrenoid: starch
Leaf like: blade (contain
synthesized air bladder cause blade
to float) provide surface
for photosynthesis
e.g. Chlamydomonas sp. e.g. Fucus sp.
 PROTOZOA
Four major phyla

Euglenophyta Rhizopoda

Ciliophora Apicomplexa
 UNIQUE CHARACTERISTIC OF
PROTOZOA

• Mostly motile
• Unicellular eukaryotes
• Has no true tissue
• Mostly heterotrophic
• Has no cell wall, some has pellicle to
give shape to the protozoa
PROTOZOA: PHYLUM EUGLENOPHYTA

• e.g. Euglena sp.

PROTOZOA: PHYLUM CILIOPHORA
• e.g. Paramecium sp.
PROTOZOA: PHYLUM RHIZOPODA
• e.g. Amoeba sp.
 PROTOZOA: PHYLUM APICOMPLEXA

• e.g. Plasmodium sp.

 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN PHYLA IN PROTOZOA
Euglenophyta Rhizopoda Ciliophora Apicomplexa
e.g. Euglena e.g. Amoeba e.g. Paramecium e.g. Plasmodium
sp. sp. sp. sp.
Spindle shape Irregular shape Slipper shape Slipper shape

Flagellum for Pseudopodium Cilia for No external

locomotion for locomotion locomotion and structure for
and feeding feeding locomotion
2 nuclei :
One nucleus One nucleus macronucleus and One nucleus
micronucleus
One One contractile Two contractile No contractile
contractile vacuole vacuoles vacuole
vacuole
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA
1. Roles in biosphere (CO2 fixation)
• Phytoplankton (Algae)
• Contain photosynthetic pigments
• primary producer in aquatic
ecosystem
• can fix CO2 for photosynthesis
providing food and oxygen
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA
2. Human food source (Chlorella sp. & Spirulina
sp.)

• Chlorella sp.(green algae)

• high protein
• Stimulate immune system
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA
2. Human food source (Chlorella sp. & Spirulina
sp.)

• Spirulina sp. (blue green algae)

• dietary supplement
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA

3. Eutrophication (algal
bloom)
• Process water bodies, e.g.
lake receive excessive
nutrients (phosphate and
nitrogen) that stimulates
excessive growth of algae
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA

3. Eutrophication (algal bloom)

– Source of excessive nutrient :

• Soil erosion containing nutrient
• Sewage treatment plant discharge
• Fertilizer from agricultural field that
enters water bodies
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA

3. Eutrophication (algal bloom)

– Effect of algal bloom :

• Reduce dissolve oxygen which
leads to death of aquatic organism
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA
4. Red tides
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA
4. Red tide

• Caused by dinoflagellate
• Explosion/bloom of dinoflagellates
change coastal water color
red/brown/ orange
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA
• Dinoflagellates:
• a protozoa (zooplankton)
• Release toxin – if consume by fish can
paralyse nervous system of infected
fish.
• Cause death to organism who feed
on the infected fish
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA
5. Effect human health (Plasmodium sp. – malaria)
 IMPORTANCE OF PROTISTA

5. Human health

• Plasmodium sp. – a protozoa from

Phylum Apicomplexa that can
cause malaria in human
• The parasitic protozoa can be
transmitted to human by the
Anopheles sp. mosquito
• Plasmodium sp. live in the
blood stream of human