Unicellular
Most protists are one-celled organisms.
Protozoan
Animal-like protists.
Saltwater blooms (Red Tide)
An algal bloom that is caused because of an increase in nutrients in the water. They are dangerous when the toxins that the algae produce become concentrated in the bodies of organisms that consume the algae.
Fungus-like protists
Heterotrophs which have cell walls, and use spores to reproduce. They are able to move at some point in their lives. The three types are slime molds, water molds, and downy mildews.
Sarcodines
Animal-like protists that capture food using pseudopods.
Freshwater Algal blooms
Also called eutrophication is when a layer of algae prevents sunlight from reaching plants and other algae beneath the surface. Those organisms die and sink to the bottom. Then decomposers increase in number and use up the oxygen in the water. Without oxygen, fish and other organisms in the water die.
Euglenoids (Euglena)
Green, unicellular algae that are found mostly in fresh water. Unlike other algae, they have one animal-like characteristic—they can be heterotrophs under certain conditions.
Diatoms
Are a type of unicellular plantlike protists with glasslike cell walls.
Contractile Vacuole
Freshwater protozoans use this to pump excess water out of its body.
Symbiosis
A close relationship between two species in which at least one organism benefits.
Slime Molds
A fungus-like protists that sometimes creep together to form a multicellular mass.
Eutrophication
The buildup over time of nutrients in freshwater lakes and ponds that leads to an increase in the growth of algae.
Spore
A tiny cell that is able to grow into a new organism.
Pseudopods
A "false foot" or temporary bulge of cytoplasm used for feeding and movement in some protozoans, such as the Amoeba.
Protists
A eukaryotic organism that cannot be classified as an animal, plant, or fungus.
Cilia
The hairlike projections on the outside of cells that move in a wavelike manner.
Brown Algae
Commonly known as seaweed or giant kelp, contains many colored pigments and air bladders.
Algae
Plantlike protists that can be unicellular or multicellular, are autotrophs and depending on their pigments, can be green, yellow, red, brown, orange, or even black.
Pigments
A chemical that produces color.
Mutualism
A type of symbiosis in which both partners benefit from living together.
Amoeba
Animal-like protists from the group of Sarcodines that live in either water or soil. They feed on bacteria and smaller protists with their pseudopods.
Paramecium
Ciliates that live mostly in fresh water. They feed on bacteria and smaller protists. They use cilia to move and feed.
Flagella
Long, whiplike structures used to move flagellates.
Flagellates
Protozoans that have flagella for movement.
Animal-like Protists
Protozoans are unicellular, heterotrophs and can be classified into four groups, based on the way they move and live. Most are able to move from place to place to obtain food.
Plant-like Protists
Commonly called algae, are extremely diverse. Algae are autotrophs. Most are able to use the sun's energy to make their own food.