1. The Protists
1.1. Introduction
1.1.1. Eukaryotes with the taxonomic classification in flux
1.1.2. is artificial grouping of over 64,000 different single celled life forms
1.1.3. A polyphyletic collection of organisms
1.1.4. Most are unicellular
1.1.5. Lack the level of tissue organization present in higher eukaryotes
1.1.6. Distribution
1.1.6.1. grow in a wide variety of moist habitats
1.1.6.2. most are free living
1.1.6.3. chemoorganotrophic forms play role in recycling nitrogen and phosphorus
1.1.6.4. terrestrial and planktonic forms
1.1.6.5. parasitic forms cause disease in humans and domesticated animals
1.2. Morphology
1.2.1. Plasma membrane structure similar to multicellular plants/animals
1.2.2. Cytoplasm sometimes subdivided into
1.2.2.1. Outer gelatinous ectoplasm just underneath plasma membrane
1.2.2.2. Inner fluid region termed endoplasm
1.2.3. Pellicle structure provides support
1.3. Taxonomy
1.3.1. Difficult to define due to vast differences in protists
1.3.2. Very much in flux and an area of active research
1.3.3. New classification scheme is based on that of the International Society of Protistologists
1.3.3.1. doesn’t utilize hierarchical ranks (class and order)
1.4. Super-group
1.4.1. Excavata
1.4.1.1. Includes some of most primitive, or deeply branching eukaryotes
1.4.1.1.1. most have a cytostome
1.4.1.2. Clades
1.4.1.2.1. Fornicata
1.4.1.2.2. Parabasilia
1.4.1.2.3. Euglenozoa
1.4.2. Amoebozoa
1.4.2.1. Amoeboid motility
1.4.2.1.1. use of pseudopodia for locomotion and feeding
1.4.2.2. Naked amoebae are surrounded only by a plasma membrane
1.4.2.3. Testate amoebae
1.4.2.3.1. plasma membrane covered by material made by amoeba or obtained from the environment
1.4.2.4. Reproduce by binary or multiple fission
1.4.3. Rhizaria
1.4.3.1. Amoeboid in morphology
1.4.3.1.1. distinguished by fine pseudopodia (filopodia)
1.4.3.1.2. axopodia
1.4.3.2. Clades
1.4.3.2.1. Stramenopila
1.4.3.2.2. Alveolata
1.4.4. Archaeplastida
1.4.4.1. Includes organisms containing a photosynthetic plastid that arose through an ancient endosymbiosis with a cyanobacterium
1.4.4.1.1. all higher plants and many algal species are included
2. The Fungi (Eumycota)
2.1. Introduction
2.1.1. Eukaryotic, spore bearing
2.1.2. Chemoorganoheterotrophs with absorptive metabolism
2.1.3. Saprophytes
2.1.3.1. absorb nutrients from dead organic material by releasing degradative enzymes
2.1.3.2. osmotrophy - absorb soluble products
2.1.4. Lack chlorophyll
2.1.5. Reproduce sexually and asexually
2.1.6. 90,000 fungal species have been described, possible 1.5 million
2.2. Terminology
2.2.1. Mycology - study of fungi
2.2.2. Mycologists - scientists who study fungi
2.2.3. Mycoses - diseases caused by fungi
2.2.4. Mycotoxicology - study of fungal toxins and their effects
2.3. Taxonomy
2.3.1. Major fungal groups
2.3.1.1. Chytridiomycota
2.3.1.1.1. Simplest fungi, also called chytrids
2.3.1.1.2. Produce a zoospore with single, posterior, whiplash flagellum
2.3.1.1.3. Asexual and sexual reproduction
2.3.1.1.4. Many members degrade cellulose and keratin
2.3.1.2. Zygomycota
2.3.1.2.1. Zygomycetes
2.3.1.2.2. Most are saprophytes
2.3.1.2.3. Form coenocytic hyphae containing numerous haploid nuclei
2.3.1.2.4. Some of industrial importance
2.3.1.2.5. Usually reproduce asexually by spores that develop at the tips of aerial hyphae
2.3.1.2.6. Sexual reproduction occurs when environmental conditions are not favorable
2.3.1.2.7. Genus
2.3.1.3. Glomeromycota
2.3.1.3.1. Aseptate flat hyphae ( appressoria ) to penetrate host plants; produce large, multinucleate spores and only reproduce asexually
2.3.1.3.2. Major importance as mycorrhizal symbionts of vascular plants
2.3.1.4. Ascomycota
2.3.1.4.1. Introduction
2.3.1.4.2. Genus
2.3.1.4.3. More Pathogenic Ascomycota
2.3.1.5. Basidiomycota
2.3.1.5.1. Introduction
2.3.1.5.2. Impact on Human Beings
2.3.1.5.3. Urediniomycetes and Ustilaginomycetes
2.3.1.6. Microsporidia
2.3.1.6.1. Introduction
2.3.1.6.2. Pathogenesis
2.3.2. Basidiomycota and Ascomycota are dikarya
2.3.2.1. two parental nuclei are initially paired
2.3.2.2. nuclei fuse, undergo meiosis, produce haploid progeny
2.3.3. Zygomycota and Chytridiomycota are paraphyletic
2.3.3.1. taxonomic group includes some descendants of a single common ancestor
2.4. Distribution and Importance
2.4.1. Distribution
2.4.1.1. Primarily terrestrial, few aquatic
2.4.1.1.1. global from polar to tropical
2.4.1.2. Some form associations
2.4.1.2.1. mycorrhizae
2.4.1.2.2. lichens
2.4.1.3. Primarily terrestrial
2.4.1.3.1. few aquatic species
2.4.1.4. Many are pathogenic in plants or animals
2.4.1.5. Decomposers
2.4.1.5.1. degrade complex organic material in the environment to simple organic compounds and inorganic molecules
2.4.1.5.2. carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and other critical constituents are recycled for other living organisms
2.4.2. Importance
2.4.2.1. Industrial importance
2.4.2.1.1. fermentation
2.4.2.1.2. organic acids
2.4.2.1.3. certain drugs
2.4.2.1.4. antibiotics
2.4.2.1.5. immunosuppressive agents
2.4.2.2. Research use
2.4.2.2.1. geneticists, cytologists, biochemists, biophysicists, and microbiologists
2.4.2.2.2. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
2.5. General characteristics
2.5.1. Unicellular - few species
2.5.2. Multicellular - Mostly
2.5.3. Hyphae: Coenocytic (not divided into separate cells) and Septate (cells separated by septa)
2.5.4. Mycelium: large collection network of hyphae
2.5.5. Cell walls made of chitin