Protists and Fungi

What is a protist?
A protist is a one- or manycelled eukaryotic organism that lives in moist or wet surroundings
Cells can be prokaryotic or eukaryotic. Cells without membrane-bound structures, such as bacteria, are prokaryotic. Cells that have a nucleus and other membrane-bound structures are eukaryotic.

How do protists reproduce?

Asexually and sexually
Protists usually reproduce asexually through cell division. However, most can also reproduce sexually.

Characteristics of Protists
Plant-Like Contain chlorophyll and make their own food using photosynthesis Autotrophs (producers) Animal-Like Cannot make their own food; capture other organisms for food Heterotrophs (consumers) Fungus-Like Cannot make their own food; absorb food from their surroundings Heterotrophs (decomposers)

Have cell walls

Do not have cell walls

Some have cell walls; some do not

No specialized ways to move from place to place

Have specialized ways to move from place to place

Have specialized ways to move from place to place

Plant-Like Protists: Algae

Importance of Algae Algae: Grasses of the Oceans

Many animals that live in the ocean either eat algae for food or other animals that eat algae.

Algae and the Environment

Algae produce oxygen as a result of photosynthesis.
Oxygen is important for most organisms on Earth, including you.

Algae and the Environment

Algae can reproduce rapidly and develop into harmful algal bloom. This can cause other organisms to die and can cause health problems in humans.

Algae and You

There are different kinds of algaegreen, red, and brown. People in many parts of the world eat some species of red and brown algae. Substances found in algae are used in toothpastes, puddings, salad dressings, ice cream, marshmallowseven rubber tires and body lotion.

Animal-Like Protists
One-celled, animal-like protists are known as protozoans. Live in or on other living or dead organisms that are found in water or soil Classified by how they move:
Ciliates Flagellates pseudopods

Ciliates
Ciliashort, threadlike structures that extend from the cell membrane and help organisms move and get food Example-paramecium Feed on bacteria

Flagellates
Move by whipping long flagella Many live in freshwater Some are parasites organisms that live on or in a host organism and get its food from or at the expense of its host.

Pseudopods
Move/flow through their environments and feed using pseudopods temporary extensions of their cytoplasm Pseudopod means false foot Example-amoeba Live in freshwater and saltwater Some are parasites

Other Protozoans
Do not move on their own Are parasites of humans and other animals Examplemalaria is caused by a protozoan parasite and is transmitted by mosquitoes.

Protozoan Parasites
Giardia is another example of a protozoan parasite. It is why you shouldnt drink water directly from a stream. Credit CDC.

Fungus-Like Protists

Common Characteristics
All produce spores. Most can move using pseudopods. All are consumers.

Includes:
slime molds water molds downy mildews

Importance of Fungus-Like Protists

Help break down dead organisms Cause diseases in plants and animals

ExampleIrish Potato Famine During the 1840s downy mildew infected potatoes, Irelands main crop and the main food source for its people. Potatoes rotted in the fields, leaving many people with no food.

Fungi
Do you have any fungi in your house?

You do if you have mushrooms in the refrigerator yeast in your pantry mold on a piece of old bread, cheese, or fruit Mildew growing on your shower curtain

Characteristics of Fungi
The body is usually a mass of many-celled, thread-like tubes called hyphae Hyphae produce enzymes that help break down food outside of the fungus. Then, the fungal cells absorb the digested food.

Fungal hyphae on rotting wood

Characteristics of Fungi
All fungi are heterotrophsconsumers. Most fungi are saprophytesorganisms that obtain food by absorbing dead or decaying tissues of other organisms. Another word for saprophytes is decomposers.

Other fungi are parasites that obtain their food directly from living things. Example Athletes Foot

Fungi Reproduction
Fungi can reproduce sexually and asexually through the production of spores. Spores are waterproof reproductive cells that can grow into a new organism.

Stalking the Wild Mushroom

In this video from Science Friday mycologist Roy Halling takes us fungi foraging on the grounds of the New York Botanical Garden.

Fungi Classification
Fungi are classified into 3 main groups: Club fungi Sac fungi Zygote fungi and other fungi

Club Fungi

Sac Fungi

Morels

Sac Fungi
In Europe, a kind of fungus called truffles are a prized delicacy. Female hogs are specially trained to sniff them out from as far three feet underground.

Truffle Hunting

Zygote Fungi

Importance of Fungi: Food & Agriculture

Some fungi are eaten for food, such as cultivated mushrooms. Some fungi are used in food production. Soy sauce and blue cheese are examples of foods created with the help of fungi. Also, yeast is a fungus that is used to leaven bread. Many fungi cause diseases in plants and are responsible for damaging or destroying billions of dollars worth of food crops each year.

Importance of Fungi: Health & Medicine

Used to produce some antibiotics, such as penicillin Can cause diseases in humans and animals Examples include ringworm and athletes foot

Importance of Fungi: Decomposers

Fungi help decompose organic materials, such as food scraps and dead plants and animals. Then these materials are returned to the soil where plants can reuse them. Fungi (and bacteria) are natures recyclers. They keep earth from becoming buried under mountains of waste.