Introduction to Protista

A type of seaweed characterized by their brown color and presence of fucoxanthin pigment.

A type of sexual reproduction where a larger, non-motile female gamete (egg) is fertilized by a smaller, motile male gamete (sperm).

The process involving the fusion of male and female gametes to produce offspring.

An unusual polysaccharide used as a food reserve by brown algae.

A type of sexual reproduction where the diploid and haploid generations have distinct morphological forms.

The multicellular, diploid phase of a plant life cycle that produces spores through meiosis.

The haploid phase of a plant life cycle that produces gametes via mitosis.

A type of sexual reproduction where the male and female reproductive structures are on separate individuals.

A kingdom of organisms, primarily single-celled or forming colonies, that are eukaryotic and have a nucleus and organelles. Examples include algae and protozoa.

A defining characteristic of protists, reflecting their ability to make their own food using sunlight, like plants.

A defining characteristic of protists, reflecting their need to consume other organisms for food.

Type of heterotrophic protist that surrounds and consumes food, often other cells, using their cell body.

Type of heterotrophic protist that absorbs nutrients from their surrounding environment.

Protists that can perform both autotrophy (photosynthesis) and heterotrophy, depending on the environment. Euglena is an example.

A common mode of asexual reproduction in protists, where a parent cell divides into two identical daughter cells.

A process that occurs when a mature protist produces a bud (a daughter nucleus) that develops into a new cell.

A life cycle with two alternating generations: sporophyte and gametophyte. The sporophyte produces spores that develop into gametophytes, which produce gametes that fuse to form a zygote, developing into a new sporophyte.

A collective name for various phyla of primitive aquatic organisms, characterized by their ability to perform oxygenic photosynthesis.

A group of ancient, unicellular flagellated protists, often found in freshwater environments.

A type of carbohydrate storage product found almost exclusively in Euglenophytes.

The green pigment used by algae to capture light energy for photosynthesis.

A process by which algae convert carbon dioxide into organic compounds using energy from sunlight.

A motile male gamete produced by some algae, including brown algae.

A long, undulating membrane that allows Trypanosoma to move.

The diploid cell resulting from the fusion of a male gamete (antherozoid) and a female gamete (egg).

The stage of Trypanosoma that infects humans, developing in the tsetse fly's salivary glands.

The process by which Trypanosoma reproduces, creating two identical cells.

Red pigments found in red algae (Rhodophyta), responsible for their iconic red color.

A type of nucleus in ciliate cells responsible for essential metabolic processes and encoding proteins.

A distinct lack of flagella at any stage in the life cycle, even in the reproductive stages.

A type of nucleus in ciliate cells involved only in sexual reproduction through conjugation.

The process of releasing spores into the water for asexual reproduction.

A specialized structure in ciliates responsible for ingesting food particles.

A complex polysaccharide found in red algae, used as a thickening agent in the food industry.

A membrane-covered passage in ciliates that directs food particles towards digestion.

Harpoon-like structures found on the surface of some ciliates, used for attachment or defense.

A flexible, protein-based structure found in Euglenophytes that helps provide the cell with support and shape.

Specialized structures found in Euglenophytes that help propel the cell through water. They are located near the base of the flagellum.

A type of asexual reproduction in Euglenophytes where a single cell divides into two daughter cells, with one daughter cell retaining the original flagellum and the other generating a new one.

Armored plates that cover the cells of dinoflagellates, providing them with protection and structural support.

Two dissimilar flagella found in dinoflagellates, which help propel the cell through water, causing it to spin like a top.

A type of asexual reproduction common in dinoflagellates where a single cell divides into two daughter cells. The thecae may be shed before division or split along lines, with daughter cells regenerating missing sections.

Endosymbiotic relationships between dinoflagellates and marine animals, such as corals and sea anemones. The dinoflagellates provide nutrients through photosynthesis while the host provides protection and other resources.

A process of reproduction involving the fusion of gametes (sex cells), leading to the formation of a zygote. While it occurs in some dinoflagellates, it is not as well understood as asexual reproduction.