1. V. Fungus-like Protists Fungus-like protist – protists that feed off of dead organic matter but have centrioles & lack chitin in their cell walls. A. Characteristics of fungus-like protists 1. Live in damp watery places. 2. Are small. 3. Help to break down dead organic material.

2. B. Slime molds Slime mold – fungus-like protists that play a key part in recycling organic material. Are divided into 2 major groups : 1. Cellular slime molds (Acrasiomycota) - slime mold whose individual cells remain separated during every phase of the mold’s life cycle. slime mold whose individual cells remain separated during every phase of the mold’s life cycle. 2. Acellular slime molds (Myxomycota) - slime mold that passes through slime mold that passes through a stage in which its cells fuse a stage in which its cells fuse to form large cells with many to form large cells with many nuclei. nuclei.

3. Plasmodiums, Fruiting bodies, & Spores Plasmodium – structure with many nuclei formed by acellular slime molds. -If conditions are unfavorable slime molds will creep somewhere else or enter a different stage of its life cycle. -Slime molds produce fruiting bodies – structures that produce spores to be distributed by animals. Spores – haploid (n) reproductive cell that produce gametes.

4. C. Water molds Water molds (Oomycota) – fungus-like protists that thrive on dead or decaying organic material in water. -Look like cotton fluff & can be parasitic. Ex : White rust & downy mildew. -Water molds will attack injured skin or gill tissues of fish or land plants. -Most slime molds used to be considered fungi. They were placed in the kingdom Protista because they have cell walls made mostly of cellulose & produce spores with flagella (unlike fungi).