The Protozoans

Ciliates Amoeboid Protozoans Flagellated Protozoans

Kingdom Protozoa

Protists

Defining Characteristics

All are unicellular eukaryotes What is a prokaryote? Many species are both heterotrophic and autotrophic simultaneously or at different stages of the lifecycle

Kingdom Protozoa

Eukaryote Cell

Prokaryote Cell

Adaptability

Protozoans are ecologically important primary producers, consumers and as vital links in the food chain Humans are greatly effected by parasitic protozoans either directly or indirectly

Effects range from irritating - fatal

Malaria (Plasmodium spp.) worldwide epidemic

Kingdom Protozoa

Reproduction

Asexual reproduction

Replication of chromosomes and the splitting of the parent into two or more parts

Binary fission Multiple fission Budding

Protozoans are problematic in their associations as colonial forms

Through asexual reproduction protozoans are identical and could be considered multicellular

Kingdom Protozoa

Asexual Reproduction

Amoeba

Flagellate

Ciliate

Kingdom Protozoa

Classification
Alveolate Protozoans Phylum Ciliophora Phylum Dinozoa Phylum Apicomplexa Amoeboid Protozoans The Rhizaria Phylum Foraminifera Phylum Radiozoa

Kingdom Protozoa

Phylum Ciliophora

Defining characteristics

Body externally ciliated in at least some lifecycle stages

Have the highest degree of subcellular specialization and are considered advanced protozoans

Paramecium feces
Kingdom Protozoa

Cilia

Cilia

Hair-like structures by which the organism moves, collects food and senses their surroundings

Fastest of all the protozoans

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Kingdom Protozoa

Ciliate Biology

Oral groove

Cytostome

Cytoproct

Contractile vacuole
Paramecium

Ciliate Lifestyles

65% of all ciliate species are free-living and mobile Some ciliates form colonial aggregations and have sessile habits Other ciliates have symbiotic relationships in invertebrates and vertebrates

Vorticella

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Kingdom Protozoa

Dinoflagellates (Phylum Dinozoa)

Know for bioluminescence and highly toxic red tides

Dense aggregations produce saxitoxin killing fish and crustaceans

Also contaminates shellfish causing diarrheic shellfish poisoning Some benthic dinoflagellates produce a neurotoxin that accumulates in tropical fish called Ciguatera
Kingdom Protozoa

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Phylum Apicomplexa (Sporozoa)

All members of this phylum are endoparasites

Includes Malaria (Plasmodium) Toxoplasma gondii Perkinsus spp. Pneumocystis carinii

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Kingdom Protozoa

Malaria (Plasmodium)

Amoeboid Protozoans

Contains 56,000 described species 44,000 are only known as fossils Most reproduce asexually through binary fission

Characterized by pseudopodia Food is usually captured by phagocytosis Body types range from free flowing to rigid with skeletal supports
Kingdom Protozoa

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Phagocytosis

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Kingdom Protozoa

Amebas and You!

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Kingdom Protozoa

Class Foraminifera (Rhizaria)

Defining characteristics

Individuals secrete multi-chambered tests, generally made of calcium carbonate (CaCo3)

Foram. tests

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Kingdom Protozoa

Foraminiferans

Extremely abundant, most are benthic and marine Feed on diatoms and algae, very slow movers Organisms are extremely common and form ooze

White cliffs of Dover are foraminiferan tests

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Kingdom Protozoa

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Kingdom Protozoa

Phylum Radiozoa (Rhizaria)

Defining characteristics

Body is divided into distinct zones separated by a perforated membrane or capsule

Have pseudopodia supported with thin microtubules that give a spiny rayed appearance
Kingdom Protozoa

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Radiolarians
Have shells made of silicon dioxide that can be very intricate Feed on diatoms and other phytoplankton

Most species are planktonic

Benthic individuals move by use of pseudopodia

Can occur in large concentrations that form ooze as well

Kingdom Protozoa

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Zooflagellated Protozoans

Choanoflagellates

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Kingdom Protozoa

Phytoflagellated Protozoans

Have chlorophyll and obtain energy directly from the sunlight Some are strictly autotrophic or heterotrophic

Some are a combination of both

Both the Euglena and the dinoflagellates are examples of phytoflagellated protozoans

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Kingdom Protozoa