Kingdom Protista Research Paper

Protists
Protists are a very large, diverse group of organisms, including the plant-like protists (algae), fungi-like protists, and the animal-like protists (protozoans). They are all eukaryotic, and most are unicellular. Traditional taxonomy of protists (Kingdom Protista) did not accurately represent evolutionary relationships, so the classification of this group is unsettled. Modern taxonomy has rearranged the group formerly known as Kingdom Protista, separating the different types of organisms into their own candidate Kingdoms.
Protists vary in how they obtain energy (autotrophic or heterotrophic) and in their locomotion.
Locomotion
Movement is achieved by several different methods in the protists.
Cilia - Microscopic hair like projections
Bacillariophyta, Oomycota, Phaeophyta and Chrysophyta - Phylum Bacillariophyta (Diatoms) Photosynthetic Freshwater and marine; large component of phytoplankton Cell walls are two valves with silica; overlap at the girdle Abundant fossils (diatomaceous earth) ~ 11,500 species Reproduction mostly by fission

-Phylum Oomycota (water molds and parasitic fungi-like protists) Vegetative hyphae Sexual reproductive structures, oogonium and antheridium Zygote is called an oospore Asexual reproduction by biflagellated zoospores Cellulose cell walls Heterotrophic, decomposers and parasites ~ 500 species Example Saprolegnia

-Phylum Phaeophyta (Brown Algae or Kelps) Marine tidal zone to 75 feet deep in temperate waters Sizes to 10O feet Color: brown to olive brown Pigments: Chlorophyll a and fucoxanthin All multicellular Many commercial uses Body Form has a Holdfast, Stipe, Lamina (Blade), and Air bladders Well defined alternation of diploid and haploid