Protista Green, Red, and Brown Algae, Sporozoans, Water Molds, Unicellular Flagellates Jade Bryngelson

Green Algae Cholorophyta = “Green Plants” Dark to light green in color Contains Chlorophyll A Chlorophyll B Can be one celled or multicelled Both marine and freshwater algae Found in lighter abundant areas Difference Classified in plant (Plante) Kingdom Color determined by pigments that give it yellow Found in shallow water, where brown and red are found in ocean more often Unicellular typically have a simpler life cycle and can reproduce faster

Green Algae Cont. 4,022 species Uses Sea Lettuce Dead man’s fingers Important food source for fish Food coloring Cancer treatments Reduce Global Warming..? As sea ice melts, iron is introduced to the ocean. This fuels the growth of algae, which absorb carbon dioxide, which could reduce the effects of global warming.

Red Algae Rhodophyta = “Red Plants” Red or purplish in color Big variety of pigments Most important – phycoerithrin Provides red pigment Can be found deeper in the ocean because of pigments Can be one-celled or multicelled Difference from other algae Cells lack flagella Pigments- cholorophyll a, phycobiliproteins, red phycoerythrin, blue phycocyanin, carotenes, lutein, and zeaxanthin Absorbs blue, reflects red

Red Algae Cont. Commonly found in coral reefs 6,000 species Uses Irish moss Dulse Lavor Coralline Uses Eaten by fish and humans Some make sushi and pudding Food additives Treat herpes virus Coralline- help build tropical reefs, look a lot like coral Irish moss-pudding

Brown Algae Phaeophyta = “dusky plants” Largest, most complex Usually brown, olive, or yellow in color Contains Chlorophyll A Chlorophyll C Fucoxanthin Often rooted to a stationary structure Rock, shell or dock = holdfast Fucoxanthin- gives it its color, not found in other algae plants

Brown Algae Cont. Multicellular Marine 1,800 species Kelp Seaweeds Focus Sargassum Uses Fish and Food Focus- “rockweeds” “wracks” Sargassum- big floating mats, Sargasso Sea in middle of North Atlantic Ocean holds many of these Uses-Eaten by some fish, bottom-dwelling fish use them when they sink, food thickeners and fillers

Sporozoans Apicomplexa Parasites No physical form of movement Complex life cycle including: Mammalian host Invertebrate host Mosquito Animation Can be moved in the currents of blood by their hosts

Unicellular Flagellates Move with the use of flagella May live as single cells or parasites Almost any watery area on earth contains many flagellates Important to marine food chain Mix of features Some are plant-like, but others can be mixed Life cycle unknown Plant, animal and fungal features. Provide clues to multicellular evolution

Water Molds Oomycota = “Egg Fungi” Always found in wet environments Long considered fungi because: Produce fungi-like filaments Feed on decaying tissue (rotting logs, mulch) Differ from fungi: Cell wall made of cellulose instead of chitin Gene sequences are different Appear to come from brown algae which lost its ability to photosynthesize Environments- especially fresh water sources near upper layer of soil

Water Molds Cont. Species Saprolegnia, Achyla Downy Mildews Fish parasites Downy Mildews Damage grapes/other crops Phytophthora infestans Destroys potato crop Phytophthora ramorum Killing many oaks