Protists

Gettin' the idea If I were to ask you to identify examples of living things, you would more than likely name some familiar animals and plants. However, most living things on Earth are not animals or plants! Protists and fungi are organisms that are probably not as familiar to you as other living things, but they are important parts of most ecosystems on Earth.As you read through this Wizer, make sure to copy down all notes that are either in greenish blue font or the chart. Characteristics of Protists Remember that living things are classified into kingdoms based on how they get their food and by the number of cells that make up their bodies. The protist kingdom contains such a huge variety of organisms that they are difficult to classify. It is also known as the kingdom Protista. Though nearly all organisms in this kingdom are made up of only one cell, a few are made up of more than one cell. An organism made up of one cell is said to be unicellular and organisms that are made up of more than one cell are said to be multi-cellular. Kelp and seaweed are multi-cellular, but they are protists. One thing protsits do have in common is that all of them live in moist and wet environments. Obtaining Resources In order to be an organisms, it must have a way to obtain resources for energy. Some protists are autotrophs. Remember that autotrophs are organisms that make their own food through the process of photosynthesis. These plant-like protist produce their own food through the process of photosynthesis. We will learn more about this process within the next few weeks.Other protists are heterotrophs, like us! These animal-like protists must take in food from external sources to survive. Mostly, they eat bacteria and other protist!Fungus-like protists are heterotrophs that digest their food, or break it down, outside their bodies. Some of these protist are decomposers. They break down the remains of dead plants and animals. Other fungus-like protists are parasites. A parasite is an organism that obtains nutrients from another organism (the host) and harms the host.Some protists have some characteristics of autotrophs and some characteristics of heterotroph. Confusing, huh?! This is why protists are so hard to classify.Copy this chart into your science notebook:Protists Classifcation:ClassificationExplanationAnimal-like protistsCatch and take in other organisms for food (heterotrophs)Plant-like protistsProduce their own food (autotrophs)Fungus-like protistsDigest food externally, outside their bodies (heterotrophs) They Move?! Protists move in different ways. Some protists, such as members of the genus Euglena, move using flagella. Flagella are long, whip-like tails that help the protist move and can also catch food.Other protists, such as paramecia, have cilia. Cilia are short, hairlike structures on the surface of the cell. They beat like tiny oars, helping the protist move and sweeps food into a protist's mouth-like structure.Other protists move and capture food using a structure called a pseudopod. A pseudopod is a finger-like projection that sticks out from the cell. It is sometimes called a false foot because a protist can use it like a food to propel itself forward. A pseudopod surrounds food and brings it into the cell. It pulls the rest of the protist along as it moves. An amoeba is a protist that uses a pseudopod to move and to obtain food. How are pseudopods similar to flagella? Both are long, whip-like structures. Both are used to engulf food particles. Both are reproductive parts of protists. Both are used by protists for movement. Which term describes autotrophic protists? plant-like symbiotic fungus-like saprophytic