Fungi, Algae, Protozoa, and Helminths

Flashcards to help review key concepts about fungi, algae, protozoa, and helminths.

What are the defining characteristics of fungi?

Fungi are eukaryotic, chemoheterotrophic organisms that acquire food by absorption, mostly multicellular (except yeasts), and reproduce via spores.

Differentiate between asexual and sexual reproduction in fungi.

Asexual reproduction occurs through fragmentation or production of asexual spores, while sexual reproduction involves the fusion of nuclei from two mating strains creating sexual spores.

What are the four main phyla of fungi?

Zygomycota, Ascomycota, Basidiomycota, and Glomeromycota.

Name two beneficial effects of fungi.

Fungi decompose dead organic matter, recycling nutrients; they form mycorrhizae that enhance plant nutrient absorption.

What are two harmful effects of fungi?

Fungi can cause human diseases and crop diseases, leading to significant economic losses.

What is mycology?

The study of fungi.

Define the term 'mycelium.'

Mycelium is a mass of hyphae, the thread-like structures that make up the body of a fungus.

What is dimorphism in fungi?

Dimorphism refers to fungi that can grow in two different forms, typically as a yeast at body temperature (37°C) and as a mold at environmental temperatures (25°C).

How do yeasts reproduce?

Yeasts reproduce primarily through budding, where a new cell grows off a parent cell.

What are the major differences between fungi and bacteria?

Fungi are eukaryotic with a cell wall of chitin, while bacteria are prokaryotic with a peptidoglycan cell wall.

What is an opportunistic mycosis?

An opportunistic mycosis is a fungal infection that occurs primarily in individuals with compromised immune systems.

Describe the life cycle stages of Plasmodium (the causative agent of malaria).

Sporozoites infect host liver cells, develop into merozoites that go back into the bloodstream and infect red blood cells, some gametocytes are taken up by mosquitoes, where sexual reproduction occurs.

What role do arthropods play in the transmission of diseases?

Arthropods such as mosquitoes and ticks serve as vectors, transmitting pathogens to humans and other hosts during feeding.

What is the significance of the lyophilized life cycle in parasitic helminths?

The complex life cycles allow parasitic helminths to adapt to different hosts and environments, increasing their transmission capability.

What are the distinguishing characteristics of the Ascomycota?

Ascomycota, known as sac fungi, have septate hyphae and produce ascospores in a sac-like structure called an ascus.

Define the term 'trophic level' in the context of ecosystems.

Trophic levels are the hierarchical levels in an ecosystem, represented by organisms that share the same function in the food chain.

How do dinoflagellates cause harmful algal blooms?

Dinoflagellates can reproduce rapidly in nutrient-rich conditions, forming blooms that can produce toxins harmful to aquatic life and humans.