Biological Diversity: Protists & Fungi

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing essential terms and definitions from notes on Protists and Fungi.

Protists

Eukaryotic organisms, mostly unicellular, that can be autotrophic or heterotrophic, reproduce asexually, and inhabit moist environments.

Kingdom Protista (Key Features)

Group containing eukaryotic, mostly unicellular organisms that may form symbiotic relationships or live freely and reproduce asexually.

Categories of Protists

Plant-like, Fungus-like, and Animal-like (Protozoa).

Plant-like Protists

Photosynthetic autotrophs with chloroplasts found in water (e.g., red algae, euglenoids).

Fungus-like Protists

"Slime molds" or "water molds" that are heterotrophic decomposers reproducing by spores but lacking chitin in their cell walls.

Animal-like Protists (Protozoa)

Motile, single-celled heterotrophs with cilia or flagella that often feed by phagocytosis (e.g., amoebas, ciliates).

Amoeba

Example of an animal-like protist that moves using pseudopodia and engulfs food by phagocytosis.

Pseudopodia

Temporary, arm-like cytoplasmic projections used for movement and feeding in amoebas.

Kingdom Fungi (Key Features)

Uni- or multicellular heterotrophic saprophytes with chitinous cell walls that can reproduce sexually, asexually, or both and are haploid for most of their life cycle.

Mycelium

Interconnected network of fungal filaments (hyphae) that secretes enzymes, breaks down organic matter, and absorbs nutrients.

Hyphae

Filamentous branches produced by multicellular fungi during growth.

Septate Hyphae

Hyphae divided by septa (cross walls) into separate cells.

Coenocytic Hyphae

Multinucleated hyphae lacking septa due to absence of cytokinesis.

Sporangium

Multicellular fungal organ where meiosis produces haploid spores.

Rhizoids

Small branching hyphae that anchor fungi to a substrate; lack true tissues and conducting cells.

Non-filamentous Fungi (Yeasts)

Unicellular fungi that reproduce asexually by budding via mitosis.

Filamentous Fungi (Molds & Mushrooms)

Multicellular fungi that grow from mycelium and can reproduce sexually or asexually.