The Origin and Diversification of Eukaryotes

This set of flashcards covers key concepts from the lecture notes on the origin and diversification of eukaryotes, focusing on attendance policies, classification, evolutionary relationships, reproduction, and ecological roles.

What are protists?

Eukaryotes that are not plants, animals, or fungi, traditionally called protists. This term is a convenience label, not a formal taxonomic group.

How are eukaryotes related to Archaea and Bacteria?

Eukaryotes are thought to be more closely related to Archaea than to Bacteria; they are monophyletic and possess mitochondria and chloroplasts derived from bacterial lineages.

What is endosymbiosis?

A process where a prokaryotic organism is incorporated into a eukaryotic cell and evolves into an organelle, like mitochondria from proteobacteria and chloroplasts from cyanobacteria.

What are the major lineages of eukaryotes that diversified in the Precambrian?

The eight major clades include Alveolates, Stramenopiles, Rhizaria, Excavates, Amoebozoans, and others.

What role do phytoplankton play in ecosystems?

Phytoplankton are important primary producers that perform significant carbon fixation in aquatic ecosystems.

Describe the reproduction methods of protists.

Protists can reproduce asexually through mitosis and budding, or sexually through conjugation and alternation of generations.

What is the role of diatoms in the environment?

Diatoms are major photosynthetic producers, storing energy as oil, and their remains contribute to petroleum and natural gas over millions of years.

What happens during a red tide event?

Certain phytoplankton species, such as diatoms and dinoflagellates, reproduce rapidly under favorable conditions, producing toxins that can harm marine life and humans.