BIO 182 Practical Protists & Fungi

Euglenozoan Examples

Trypanosoma levisi; Euglena

Trypanosoma levisi Characteristics

Microscopic; flagellated; parasitic; heterotrophic

Trypanosoma levisi Ecological Role

Parasitic

Trypanosoma levisi Economic Importance

Lives in blood of rats; transmitted by fleas; human diseases

Euglena Characteristics

Flagellated; pellicle present; autotrophic or mixotrophic

Euglena Ecological Role

Primary producer; food for consumers in plankton

Euglena Ecological Importance

Food for consumers in food chain

Stramenopiles Example

Diatoms, Brown Algae, Water Molds

Diatoms Characteristics

Microscopic; autotrophic; cell wall of silica; pinnate or centric forms

Diatoms Ecological Role

Primary producer; food for consumers in plankton

Diatoms Ecological Importance

Diatomaceous earth has commercial uses

Brown Algae Characteristics

Macroscopic; autotrophic; pigments fucoxanthin and chlorophyll a present

Brown Algae Ecological Role

Primary producer

Brown Algae Ecological Importance

Extract algin used in paint, toothpaste, ice cream, and other food products

Water Molds Characteristics

Body of mycelia; cellulose cell wall; saprophytic or parasitic

Water Molds Ecological Role

Live on dead or dying organisms, cycling organic matter

Water Molds Ecological Importance

May be devastating to crops, potatoes, etc.

Alveolates Examples

Paramecia; Dinoflagellates; Plasmodium

Paramecia Characteristics

Microscopic; singled-celled; heterotrophic, alveoli under cell membrane

Paramecia Ecological Role

Food for microscopic consumers in plankton and some animals

Paramecia Ecological Importance

Food for microscopic organisms

Dinoflagellates Characteristics

Microscopic; single-celled; autotrophic; cell wall in plates; two perpendicular grooves with flagella

Dinoflagellates Ecological Role

Primary producer; food for consumers in plankton; can be toxic to fish

Dinoflagellates Ecological Importance

Secrete toxins that kill fish in red tides

Plasmodium Characteristics

Complex life cycle alternating in Anopheles mosquito and human

Plasmodium Ecological Role

Parasitic

Plasmodium Ecological Importance

Causes malaria, leading to deaths of many people

Rhizarians Examples

Foraminiferans; Radiolarians

Foraminiferans Characteristics

Microscopic; ameboid; heterotrophic; thread like pseudopodia; secrete calcium carbonate tests

Foraminiferans Ecological Role

Food for larger organisms in plankton

Foraminiferans Ecological Importance

Form limestone deposits in ocean floor

Radiolarians Characteristics

Microscopic; ameboid; heterotrophic; thread like pseudopodia; secrete silicon dioxide skeleton

Radiolarians Ecological Roles

Food for larger organisms in plankton

Radiolarians Ecological Importance

Form silicon deposits in ocean floor

Amoebozoans Examples

Amoeba, Physarum, Dictyostelium

Amoeba Characteristics

Microscopic; ameboid; lobe-shaped pseudopodia; heterotrophic

Amoeba Ecological Role

Food for larger organisms

Amoeba Ecological Importance

Some may be parasitic

Physarum Characteristics

Plasmodial slime mold; ameboid multinucleate plasmodium; heterotrophic

Physarum Ecological Role

Feeds on bacteria

Physarum Ecological Importance

Biological research provides phylogenetic insight

Dictyostelium Characteristics

Cellular slime mold; forms multicellular, ameboid feeding aggregate

Dictyostelium Ecological Role

Feeds on bacteria on dead leaves and trees

Dictyostelium Ecological Importance

Model organism for studying evolution of multicellularity

Rhodophyta Example

Red Algae (Porphyra)

Red Algae Characteristics

Macroscopic; multicellular body; chlorophyll a, phycocyanin, phycoerythrin pigments

Red Algae Ecological Role

Marine; primary producer

Red Algae Ecological Importance

Source of agar and carrageenan; used in food preparation (sushi, etc.)

Charophyta and Chlorophyta Example

Green Algae (Chlamydomonas, Spirogyra, Ulva, Chara)

Green Algae Characteristics

Microscopic and macroscopic; story amylase; chlorophyll a and b pigments

Green Algae Ecological Role

Primary producer; ancestor to land plants

Green Algae Ecological Importance

Food for humans and livestock and proposed medicinal applications

Zygomycota (Zygote Fungi) Examples

Rhizopus, Pilobolus

Zygomycota (Zygote Fungi) Sexual Reproductive Structures

Zygosporangia, Zygospores

Zygomycota (Zygote Fungi) Asexual Reproductive Structures

Sporangia/Spores

Ascomycota (Sac or Cup Fungi) Examples

Sordaria, Peziza, Penicillium, morels, ergot

Ascomycota (Sac or Cup Fungi) Sexual Reproductive Structures

Ascocarp, Asci, Ascospores

Ascomycota (Sac or Cup Fungi) Asexual Reproductive Structure

Conidia

Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Examples

Coprinus, Bird’s Nest Fungi, Puffballs, Shelf Fungi, Corn Smut

Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Sexual Reproductive Structures

Basidiocarp, Basidia, Basidiospores

Basidiomycota (Club Fungi) Asexual Reproductive Structure

Conidia

Foliose/Leaf-Like Lichen

Crustose/Crust-Like Lichen

Fruticose/Coral-Like/Bushy Lichen