Protists and fungi

Are protists prokaryotes or eukaryotes

Eukaryotes

Describe the life cycle of Plasmodium

a complex life cycle, needs 2 hosts

What disease does plasmodium cause

malaria

Which protists are most closely related to land plants

Green algae

Which protists are found in sushi

Red algae (nori)

Which protists are used as a model organism to study the evolution of multicellularity

Slime molds

Fungi

What characters do fungi have

They are sessile and cannot make their own food

How do fungi eat

They secrete digestive enzymes outside their bodies to break down food and then absorb the nutrients

What important roles do fungi play in ecosystems

They act as decomposers, mutualists, and pathogens, recycling nutrients and supporting plant and soil health

Which fungi are in mutualistic relationships; how does each species benefit

Mycorrhizal fungi trade water/minerals for plant sugars, and lichens pair a fungus (protection) with algae/cyanobacteria (food)

Which fungi are parasitic

Parasitic fungi (like ringworm, athlete’s foot, rusts, and smuts) steal nutrients from living hosts and cause disease