Plant-Like Protists

These flashcards cover key concepts related to plant-like protists, focusing on algae classification, body forms, and characteristics.

Algae

Aquatic, photosynthetic, eukaryotic organisms important in freshwater and saltwater ecosystems.

Chlorophyta

Division of green algae classified within the Kingdom Plantae, known for its chlorophyll pigments.

Phaeophyta

Division of brown algae characterized by pigments fucoxanthin and chlorophylls a and c.

Rhodophyta

Division of red algae that contains phycoerythrin and is typically found in marine environments.

Unicellular

An organism composed of a single cell, such as the Clamydomonas sp.

Colonial

A body plan where unicellular organisms adhere together, forming structured colonies like Volvox sp.

Filamentous

A multicellular body plan where cells are joined end to end, as seen in Spirogyra.

Coenocytic

A unicellular structure characterized by many nuclei without partitioning of the cytoplasm.

Holdfast

A structure used by algae to anchor themselves to a substrate.

Morphological adaptations

Physical adaptations, such as branched body forms and holdfasts, that help algae survive.

Photosynthetic pigments

Chemicals like chlorophyll that allow algae to capture light energy for photosynthesis.

Eulittoral

The zone between high water and low water tide marks where organisms encounter extreme conditions.

Sporic life cycle

A reproductive cycle involving both sporophyte and gametophyte stages, common in Phaeophyta.

Macroalgae

Large algae such as brown, red, and green algae that can be found in marine environments.

Gelatinous matrix

A substance used to hold cells together in non-motile colonial algae.

Fluorescent pigments

Pigments that absorb specific wavelengths of light, allowing algae to thrive in diverse aquatic environments.