Lecture Notes on Protista, Fungi, and Plant Biology

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on Protista, Fungi, and Plant Biology.

What are the three major domain branches in biology?

Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya.

What characteristic distinguishes protista?

Mostly single-celled, eukaryotic organisms.

What are the two types of protista mentioned, and how do they differ?

Plant-like protista (such as phytoplankton) perform photosynthesis, while animal-like protista (such as protozoa) are heterotrophic.

What event did the Late Blight in Ireland lead to?

It infected potatoes in 1845, resulting in crop destruction and millions starving.

What role do phytoplankton play in the ecosystem?

They produce 70% of the world's oxygen and are crucial in marine food webs.

What separates seagrass from seaweed?

Seagrass is an actual plant with roots, seeds, and flowers, while seaweed is a plant-like protist.

What are some examples of diseases caused by parasitic protista?

Giardia, Malaria (Plasmodium), and African sleeping sickness (Trypanosoma).

What structures make up fungi?

Fungi are built from hyphae and have structures called mycelium.

What is the function of chitin in fungi?

Chitin makes up the cell wall of fungi, providing structural support.

Name the five major groups of fungi.

Chytrids, Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, Glomeromycota.

What is chytridomycosis and what does it affect?

A skin infection caused by chytrid fungi that affects amphibians, leading to population declines.

How do ascomycota reproduce?

They produce spores in small sac-like structures.

What disease does Pseudogymnoascus destructans cause?

White-nose syndrome in bats.

What ecological roles do fungi play?

Fungi are decomposers, can be pathogenic, and have symbiotic relationships with other organisms.

What is the significance of plant hormones such as ethylene and auxin?

Ethylene ripens fruit, while auxin promotes stem elongation and root initiation.

What are the three types of photosynthesis mentioned?

C3, C4, and CAM photosynthesis.

What is ethology?

The scientific study of animal behavior.

What does the Fixed-Action Pattern (FAP) describe?

A sequence of innate behaviors that are continued until completion once started.

What is the evolutionary relationship between fungi and arthropods based on cell wall composition?

Both have chitin in their cellular structure.

What are spores and why are they important for fungi?

Spores are protective coatings around fungal embryos that help them survive in the environment.