Algal Protists

Protists are what

Heterogeneous group: unicellular, colonial, multicellular eukaryotes.

Paraphyletic (but still has a lot of work to do)

Bangiomorpha

Is the oldest algal fossils and has unbranched filaments.

Macroalgae (Examples)

Seaweeds (green, red and brown algae)

Microalgae (Examples)

Phytoplankton

Uses of Phytoplankton/Algae

• Seafood farming

• Algal extracts

• Biofuel (through fermentation or oil extractions)

• Scrubbers (waste water treatment)

Algal Blooms (include)

12 phytoplankton species (toxic)

Euglenoids (chloroplast)

1/3 of genera have chloroplasts

• Derived from endosymbiotic green algae

• Presence of chlorophyll a, b, carotenoids

Euglenoids (pellicle)

(is a protein structure similar to a jacket beneath the plasma membrane)

• Helically-arranged (flexible) proteinaceous strips.

Eyespot (Euglenoids)

Light sensing and swelling at the base of the non-emergent flagellum

Euglenoids (Other features)

• Storage material = Paramylon in cytosol

• Pyrenoid - Protein rich inclusion in chloroplast (helps concentration of CO2 and photosynthesis)

Cryptomonads: Phylum Cryptophyta (Fatty acid)

Is very small and rich in polyunsaturated fatty acid

Cryptomonads: Phylum Cryptophyta (Chloroplast)

• Four bounding membranes

• Evidence of endosymbiosis with other eukaryotic photosynthetic cell

• Secondary Endosymbiosis.

Secondary endosymbiosis

Eukaryotic engulfing another eukaryotes

Phagocytic members

Engulf and digest cellular and other debris

Cryptomonads: Phylum Cryptophyta (pigments)

Chlorophyll a, c and carotenoids

• Phycobilin (phycocyanin/phycoerythrin)

• Hint to origin of chloroplast (cyanobacteria or red algae)

Haptophytes: Phylum Haptophyte (Haptonema)

Small appendage near flagella’s to secure food particles and sense/avoid obstacles

Haptophytes: Phylum Haptophyte (Coccoliths)

Outer scales of organic calcified material (disk-like)

Haptophytes: Phylum Haptophyte (Phytoplankton role)

Is the primarily marine and is a toxic compound.

Haptophytes: Phylum Haptophyte (chloroplast)

through 2’ endosymbiosis

Haptophytes: Phylum Haptophyte (Fucoxanthin)

A chlorophyll pigment, includes:

• Golden brown carotenoid and other pigment.

Haptophytes: Phylum Haptophyte (produce)

Sulfur oxide, sequestration of calcium carbonate (can produce toxic blooms)

Dinoflagellates (basic characteristics)

Unicellular, 2 flagella set in grooves

• 1 encircling body (belt), other perpendicular (trailing)

Dinoflagellates (Theca)

Stiff cellulose plates (in vesicles) inside the cell membrane.

Dinoflagellates (Mixotrophy)

Ability to use organic and inorganic carbon sources.

• Non photosynthetic and photosynthetic forms.

Dinoflagellates (Endosymbiosis evidence)

Peridinin pigment

Zooxanthellae (lack armed plates as symbionts)

Corals, sponges, jellyfish, tunicates, squids, snails.

Photosynthetic Stramenopiles Diatoms: Class Bacillariophyceae (Characteristics)

• Stramenopiles: straw hairs

• Heterokons: different flagella

Photosynthetic Stramenopiles Diatoms: Class Bacillariophyceae (Frustules)

2 parts of the cell (capsule shape) made of silica

• Petri dish shape structure (top and bottom)

• 2 forms: pennate (elongated) and centric (round shape)

Photosynthetic Stramenopiles Diatoms: Class Bacillariophyceae (reproduction)

Can be asexual or sexual

Photosynthetic Stramenopiles Diatoms: Class Bacillariophyceae (asexual reproduction)

Each daughter gets 1 frustule

• consequence: decrease in size (since bottom shell needs to produce something that fits inside of it.

• If it gets too small, sexual reproduction must take place.

Photosynthetic Stramenopiles Diatoms: Class Bacillariophyceae (sexual reproduction)

Gametic Oogamous

• Female gamete: large, non-flagellated

• Male gamete: small, flagellated

Photosynthetic Stramenopiles Diatoms: Class Bacillariophyceae (storage)

Chrysolaminarin (pigment in brown algae), lipids

Photosynthetic Stremenopiles Golden algae: class chrysophyceae (Pigment/storage)

Similar to diatoms:

• none or chlorophylls a and c; carotenoids (fucoxanthin)

Photosynthetic Stremenopiles Golden algae: class chrysophyceae (Characteristics)

• Can ingest bacteria and organic particles

• Walled and wall-less, ornamented (silica scales in synura)

Photosynthetic Stremenopiles Golden algae: class chrysophyceae (Blooms)

Unpleasant taste and odor in drinking water.

Photosynthetic Stamenopiles Yellow-green algae: Class Xanthophyceae (habitat)

Mainly non-motile and lives:

• In fresh water/soil

Photosynthetic Stamenopiles Yellow-green algae: Class Xanthophyceae (Pigments)

Chlorophyll a and b + carotenoids

• Main storage product: oil

• Cell wall: primarily cellulose

Photosynthetic Stamenopiles Yellow-green algae: Class Xanthophyceae (example)

Vaucheria

• Coenocytic filamentous

• Reproduction: asexual oogamous