Biology kingdom protista

protists

single celled eukaryotes found in aquatic environments. They have organelles and a nucleus and can exhibit plant-like or animal-like behavior

pseudopod

a temporary, foot-like extension of a cell's cytoplasm, used for movement and feeding. Found in amoebas and other single-celled organisms (protozoa)

saprozoic organism

absorb nutrients that are already decomposed through their cell membrane. sapro-zoic is rotten or decayed - animal or life (some protozoa)

Holozoic organism

engulf solid food, then digest it internally. Most protozoa do it and also animals

ectoplasm

a thin, semi-rigid layer part of the cytoplasm under the plasma membrane. gives the cell its shape and helps with movement (protozoa)

endoplasm

the inner layer of the cytoplasm which is more fluid and grainy and contains the organelles (protozoa)

phagocytosis

the process when the pseudopods flow around and engulf food particles which eventually gets enclosed in a food vacuole where it’s digested (protozoa)

3 groups of protista

Plant-like protist (algae), animal-like protist (protozoa), and fungi-like protist

protazoa

animal-like protist

3 plant-like protistas

Euglenophyta (Euglenids), chrysophyta and pyrrophyta (dinoflagellates) phylums.

euglenids

A group of plant-like protists characterized by their ability to photosynthesize and having an eyespot, and flagella for movement. In dark times they are able to switch to being heterotrophic

pellicle

a flexible outer covering that provides shape and support. It protects the cell and keeps it’s shape while still being able to let stuff in and out. (euglenids)

anterior indentation

It is where the flagella, reservoir, and contractile vacuole are all located. (euglenids)

contractile vacuole

A specialized cell organelle in certain protists, responsible for regulating water balance by expelling excess water from the cell. (euglenids and protazoa)

longitudinal fission

it’s like binary fission, but the cell divides along its length, resulting in two elongated daughter cells.

parasitic

when an organism lives inside another organism and gets all of its food and nutrients from that organism.

paramecium

a fast-swimming, single-celled protist that uses cilia to move and they eat like animals (are holozioc)

cilia

little hair-like structure that are used for movement and sweeping food into the oral cavity, as wall as attaching onto things. (found mostly on ciliates)

macronucleus

a bigger organelle that does the ciliates basic, daily cell functions

micronucleus

a smaller organelle that is involved in reproduction and genetic exchange (conjugation) in some protists (like ciliates), including paramecium.

trichocysts

It’s the defence mechanism of some protists (paramecium) that are like little barbs that have poison that can be shot out to either defend or attack.

spore

a reproductive unit that can develop into a new individual organism, typically resistant to adverse environmental conditions. (happens in sporozoans)

4 groups of protozoa

Ciliates, flagellates, sacrodines, sporozoans