Biology Flashcards: Archaea, Protists, and Fungi

Flashcards on Archaea, Protists, and Fungi based on lecture notes.

Archaea

Prokaryotic and unicellular organisms with cell walls but no chlorophyll; differ from bacteria in cell membrane structure and can tolerate extreme conditions.

Extremophiles

Organisms, like some archaea, that can survive in extreme conditions such as high temperatures, salty environments, or sulfur-rich areas.

Methanogens

A type of archaea that produce methane from compounds like carbon dioxide or acetic acid.

Protists

A diverse group of unicellular eukaryotes, often divided into protozoa and chromista (unicellular algae).

Chromista

Eukaryotic unicellular algae that perform photosynthesis; also known as micro-algae or phytoplankton.

Protozoa

Heterotrophic unicellular eukaryotes that move using flagella, cilia, or pseudopodia.

Euglena (Oogwiertje)

A chromist that uses an eyespot to detect light, a flagellum to move towards it, and performs photosynthesis; can also ingest food via phagocytosis and reproduces asexually through cell division.

Volvox (Bolwiertje)

A chromist that lives in colonies in freshwater environments.

Diatoms (Kiezelwieren)

Chromista with exoskeletons made of silica (sand); their shapes indicate whether they live in fresh or marine water.

Diatomaceous Earth

The substance formed from the accumulation of diatom cell walls (rich in silica) on the bottom of water bodies; used in filtration, as a mild abrasive, and in agriculture.

Chalk Algae (Kalkwieren)

Chromista with skeletons made of calcium carbonate (CaCO3), found abundantly in the sea; contribute to the formation of chalk cliffs.

Protozoa Characteristics

Eukaryotic, unicellular organisms without chloroplasts that are heterotrophic. They are part of the zooplankton in the sea.

Amoeba

A protozoan that uses pseudopodia (false feet) for movement and phagocytosis; reproduces asexually through cell division and forms cysts under unfavorable conditions.

Plasmodium

A parasitic protozoan that causes malaria; transmitted by mosquitoes and infects liver and red blood cells.

Toxoplasma gondii

A parasitic protozoan that causes toxoplasmosis; cats are the primary host, and humans can be infected through contact with cat feces or consumption of contaminated meat.

Fungi (Zwammen)

Eukaryotic organisms, mostly multicellular (except for yeasts), with cell walls containing chitin; heterotrophic, reproduce via spores, and include both mushrooms and molds.

Hyphae

The thread-like filaments that make up multicellular fungi.

Mycelium

A network or mass of fungal hyphae.

Reducers (in Fungi context)

Fungi that decompose dead organic matter like leaves and wood; examples include mushrooms and bread mold.

Mycotoxins

Toxic substances produced by some molds that can contaminate food.

Yeast

Unicellular fungi that typically reproduce asexually through budding or cell division.

Budding (in Yeast)

A form of asexual reproduction in yeast where a new cell grows as an outgrowth or bud from the parent cell.