Protists: Paramecium, Amoebas, Algae, Diatoms, Euglena, and Others
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Learning About Protists
Protists are organisms in the kingdom Protista. The Kingdom Protista is a highly diverse kingdom! On this page, I'll tell you a little bit about the characteristics of various protists, as well as show you what they look like in still photos and youtubes.
diagram of Ciliophora, a type of protist, by Franciscosp2
Article © 2012 Janiece Tobey. All rights reserved.
diagram of Ciliophora, a type of protist, by Franciscosp2
Article © 2012 Janiece Tobey. All rights reserved.
Characteristics of Protists
Most protists are microscopic unicellular organisms.
Protists are a very diverse group. Many of them are in the Protista Kingdom simply because the wouldn't fit into any other kingdom! They are not plants, animals, or fungi.
- Unicellular or Multicellular? - Most are unicellular (have only one cell), but not all are. Kelp, for example, is a protist that is multicellular.
- Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes? - All Protists are euaryotes, which means they have a nucleus. In fact, protists are the first eukaryotes!
- Reproduction - Many reproduce by binary fission, which means splitting in two. Yet others reproduce by gametes (sexual reproduction.) Some protists have complex life cycles.
- Autotrophic or Heterotrophic? - Some protists engage in photosynthesis (like plants), others eat food they find (like animals), while others just absorb their food (like fungi).
- Locomotion - How do Protists get around? Some use flagella (a whip-like tail) or cilia (short hairs) to help them move. Amoebas use pseudopodia, which are extensions of their cytoplasm.
- Location - Most protists live in water, damp soil, sand, moist leaf litter, and other damp or wet locations.
- Parasites? - Some protists are parasites.
- Mechanisms for Monitoring or Being Aware of What's In Their Environment - Many protists do have mechanisms that help them be aware of their surroundings. Eyespots that can pick up the intensity of light are one of these mechanisms.
Amoebas
Kingdom Protista, Phylum Rhizopoda
image by Kupirijo
Amoebas do not have cell walls, so they are very flexible. Amoebas move by using extensions of their cytoplasm which are called pseudopodia. These pseudopodia bulge out and anchor to another surface. The cytoplasm then flows into the extension.
To eat, amoeba surround bits of food.
Amoebas live in both fresh and salt water, as well as soil.
Amoebas reproduce by binary fission.
Binary Fission
animation of binary fission by ZabMilenko
Forams
Kingdom Protista, Phylum Foraminifera
These are the shells of Foraminifera.
photo of foraminifera shells by Psammophile
Forams are snail like animals and have long, thin "legs" of cytoplasm that stick out of their shells. These "legs" help them swim as well as catch food.
Forams have porous shells which are called tests. The shells are usually arranged in a spiral shape. The shells contain calcium carbonate and have accumulated on the ocean floors for millions of years, forming limestone.
Algae
Kingdom Protista, Phylums Chlorophyta (Green Algae), Rhodophyta (Red Algae), or Phaeophyta (Brown Algae)
photo of algae by Eric Guinther
Algae engage in photosynthesis, like plants. Green algae, red algae, and brown algae have different photosynthetic pigments. One type of brown algae, Kelp, is one of the largest organisms on earth, reaching house size proportions at times.
Diatoms
Kingdom Protista, Phylum Bacillariophyta
photo of bacillariophyta by wipeter
Diatoms are protists with double shells made out of silica. The shells of diatoms form diatomaceous earth which is used by people to control pests, add sparkle to road paint, and as an abrasive.
Diatoms engage in photosynthesis.
Diatoms have either radial symmetry (like a wheel) or bilateral symmetry (like a person's body where the right side matches the left).
Diatoms move by gliding, aided by chemicals they secrete through their shells.
Diatoms have a interesting method of reproducing. They separate the two halves of their shells and then each half regrows another half. One of the results of this method of reproduction is that the diatoms become smaller. Thus, when one becomes too small, it leaves it's shell, grows in size, and then grows a new shell.
Dinoflagellates
Kingdom Protista, Phylum Dinoflagellata
photo by Minami Himemiya
Most Dinoflagellates have two flagella. One encircles the body and the other runs perpendicular to the body. These flagella allow dinoflagellates to spin through the water.
Dinoflagellates have a cellulose coat which is often covered in silica. This gives dinoflagellates unique shapes!
Dinoflagellates can be autotrophic, heterotrophic, or both.
Dinoflagellates are often found in marine water, and are part of the plankton.
Euglena
Kingdom Protista, Phylum Euglenophyta
image by Alexei Kouprianov
Euglenoids also have two flagella. They also have an eye spot which helps them see light. Some Euglena are autotrophic while other types of Euglena are hetertophic.
Kinetoplastids
Kingdom Protista, Phylum Kinetoplastida
(Some taxonomists classify them in the Euglenophyta Phylum instead)
Kinetoplastids have a DNA containing particle within their mitochondrian. This particle is called a kinetoplast. They also have at least one flagellum. Kinetoplastids are heterotrophic. Some Kinetoplastids cause disease in humans and other animals.
photo by Dr. Myron G. Schultz
Kinetoplastids have a DNA containing particle within their mitochondrian. This particle is called a kinetoplast. They also have at least one flagellum. Kinetoplastids are heterotrophic. Some Kinetoplastids cause disease in humans and other animals.
Cilates
Kingdom Protista, Phylum Ciliophora
diagram of Ciliophora by Franciscosp2
Cell structure of an ciliophora:
1-contractile vacuole
2-digestive vacuole
3-macronucleous
4-micronucleous
5-cytoprocto
6-cytopharynx
7-cytostome
8-cilium
Cilates get their names from their cilia, short hairs which help them move. Cilates are heterotrophs and do not engage in photosynthesis. Cilates have flexible bodies that can squeeze around or through other things.
Most Cilates have two nuclei: the micronucleus and the macronucleous.
Parameciums are one type of Cilate.
Cellular Slime Molds
Cellular slime molds are a group of amoebas that have come together during times of stress. They form colonies called slugs. Each slug forms a base, a stalk and a spore-forming tip. When the spores are released, each one becomes an amoeba.
curated content from YouTube
Plasmodial Slime Molds
"Oozing slime"
Plasmodial Slime Molds are a collection of organisms that stream along as a plasmodium. As they stream, they engulf bacteria and other things they encounter. Plasmodial Slime Molds have many nuclei which are not separated by cell walls.
If a plasmodial slime mold begins to get too dry or hungry, it divides into smaller mounds which produce stalks topped with spore containing capsules. These spores eventually germinate into haploid cells (haploid cells contain half of the number of chromosomes as the adult of that species.) When two haploid cells get together, they create a diploid zygote. These zygotes undergo mitosis and become a new plasmodial slme mold.
If a plasmodial slime mold begins to get too dry or hungry, it divides into smaller mounds which produce stalks topped with spore containing capsules. These spores eventually germinate into haploid cells (haploid cells contain half of the number of chromosomes as the adult of that species.) When two haploid cells get together, they create a diploid zygote. These zygotes undergo mitosis and become a new plasmodial slme mold.
curated content from YouTube
Oomycetes
Water Molds, White Rusts, Downy Mildews
photos by Matteo Garbelotto and Edwin R. Florance
(A) Sporangia, (B) Zoospores, (C) Chlamydospores, (D) Oospores.
Oomycetes have two flagella. One of these points forward and the other points backward.
Some types of oomycetes cause disease in plants. The potato blight in Ireland was called by the oomycete Phytophthora infestans.
Diversity and Characterstics of Protists
Paul Anderson (Bozemanbiology) talks about protists and their diversity.
powered by Youtube
Protists Labs
Observing live protists is a wonderful way to learn more about them!
To observe live protists, you'll need a microscope and some slides. Having a few clean pipets (very inexpensive to buy) is also helpful. You can obtain samples of paramecium, amoebas, euglenas, etc, from Carolina Biological Supply and/or you can collect pond water. Our homeschool co-op did both. We had the best results with seeing the euglenas from Carolina Biological Supply! They were everywhere, swimming all around! There was no way to miss seeing them in the microscope!
Yet it was also fascinating to see what organisms could be found in water from a nearby pond!
Here are some activities (and tips) you may want to try.
How to Collect Microscopic Pond Life
Pond Water - A Closer Look
Life in a Drop of Pond Water
Virtual Pond Dip
Yet it was also fascinating to see what organisms could be found in water from a nearby pond!
Here are some activities (and tips) you may want to try.
How to Collect Microscopic Pond Life
Pond Water - A Closer Look
Life in a Drop of Pond Water
Virtual Pond Dip
For more info about Protists
- Kingdom Protista
- For more information about protists, visit Kingdom Protista. In addition to information, you'll find great pictures as well as coloring sheets.
Biology
List of pages in this series
Homepage: Biology: Information, Videos, and Labs
Unit 1 on Cell Biology
Biology Labs, Activities, Videos, and Study Guides About Cells (Photosynthesis, Mitosis, Cell Organelles, and More)
Unit 2 on Genetics
Labs, Information, And Videos For High School Students Studying Genetics.
Unit 3 on The History of Life on Earth
The History Of Life On Earth.
Unit 4 on Ecology
Ecological Principles / Populations
Ecosystems
Biological Communities - Symbiosis, Niches, and Biomes
Global Changes And The Environment
Unit 5 on Diversity
An Introduction to Taxonomy - The Kingdoms and Domains Of Life
Learning About Viruses And Bacteria
Protists: Paramecium, Amoebas, Algae, Diatoms, Euglena, and Others
The Fungi Kingdom
Unit 6 on All About Plants
The Plant Kingdom
Unit 7 on The Animal Kingdom: Invertebrates
The Animal Kingdom - An Introduction
Sponges are Simple Animals
The Cnidarians: Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, Hydrozoans, and Corals
Earthworms, Christmas Tree Worms, Leeches, and Other Annelids
Mollusks Are Invertebrates
Check back later for additional biology units!
Unit 1 on Cell Biology
Biology Labs, Activities, Videos, and Study Guides About Cells (Photosynthesis, Mitosis, Cell Organelles, and More)
Unit 2 on Genetics
Labs, Information, And Videos For High School Students Studying Genetics.
Unit 3 on The History of Life on Earth
The History Of Life On Earth.
Unit 4 on Ecology
Ecological Principles / Populations
Ecosystems
Biological Communities - Symbiosis, Niches, and Biomes
Global Changes And The Environment
Unit 5 on Diversity
An Introduction to Taxonomy - The Kingdoms and Domains Of Life
Learning About Viruses And Bacteria
Protists: Paramecium, Amoebas, Algae, Diatoms, Euglena, and Others
The Fungi Kingdom
Unit 6 on All About Plants
The Plant Kingdom
Unit 7 on The Animal Kingdom: Invertebrates
The Animal Kingdom - An Introduction
Sponges are Simple Animals
The Cnidarians: Jellyfish, Sea Anemones, Hydrozoans, and Corals
Earthworms, Christmas Tree Worms, Leeches, and Other Annelids
Mollusks Are Invertebrates
Check back later for additional biology units!
Guestbook
Comments? Questions?
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oceansky Jun 3, 2012 @ 7:03 am | delete
- A very interesting topic, protists. You have been blessed.
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pawpaw911
May 3, 2012 @ 5:04 pm | delete
- What cool little critters.
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BryanLSC
Apr 21, 2012 @ 12:09 pm | delete
- Diatoms are the strangest looking creatures, don't you think? Seem like aliens to me!
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JaredBroker
Jan 19, 2012 @ 12:04 pm | delete
- Fascinating stuff! Life is so similar at the microscopic level. Thanks for sharing.
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iijuan12
Jan 18, 2012 @ 7:26 pm | delete
- Very informative!
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- Load More
About The Author
Article © 2012 Janiece Tobey. All rights reserved.
Page last updated 6/3/12.
Page last updated 6/3/12.
by Janiece
Hi! I'm an author, a vegetarian, and a homeschooling mom. I'm currently writing a book about various types of spiritual experiences women often report... more »
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