1. What are the main characteristics of protists?
- Eukaryotic cells
- Mostly unicellular
- Diverse modes of nutrition (autotrophic, heterotrophic, mixotrophic)
- Various methods of locomotion (flagella, cilia, pseudopodia)
- Reproduce asexually (binary fission, multiple fission) and sometimes sexually
2. How do protists obtain energy?
- Autotrophs: Use photosynthesis (e.g., algae)
- Heterotrophs: Ingest or absorb organic matter (e.g., amoeba, paramecium)
- Mixotrophs: Combine both autotrophic and heterotrophic methods
3. Describe three types of protist movement.
- Flagella: Whip-like structures for swimming (e.g., Euglena)
- Cilia: Short hair-like structures for coordinated movement (e.g., Paramecium)
- Pseudopodia: Temporary extensions of the cell membrane for crawling (e.g., Amoeba)
4. What is the role of protists in ecosystems?
- Primary producers in aquatic food chains (phytoplankton)
- Decomposers that recycle nutrients
- Symbionts in mutualistic relationships (e.g., coral reefs, termite guts)
- Parasites that can cause diseases in plants, animals, and humans
5. Name two examples of protists and their impact on humans.
- Plasmodium: Causes malaria, a deadly disease transmitted by mosquitoes
- Trypanosoma: Causes African sleeping sickness, transmitted by tsetse flies
6. How do fungi differ from protists?
- Fungi are multicellular (except yeasts), while most protists are unicellular
- Fungi have chitin in their cell walls; protists have varied cell wall compositions or none
- Fungi are obligate heterotrophs (absorb nutrients); protists can be autotrophic or heterotrophic
- Fungi reproduce via spores; protists use binary fission, conjugation, or other methods
7. What are the main characteristics of fungi?
- Eukaryotic cells
- Heterotrophic (absorptive nutrition)
- Cell walls made of chitin
- Reproduce via spores
- Most are multicellular (filamentous hyphae forming mycelium)
8. How do fungi obtain nutrients?
- Saprophytic: Decompose dead organic matter
- Parasitic: Absorb nutrients from living hosts
- Mutualistic: Form symbiotic relationships (e.g., mycorrhizae with plant roots, lichens with algae)
9. Describe three types of fungi and their roles.
- molds: Decomposers in soil and decaying matter
- yeasts: Used in baking and brewing; some cause infections
- mushrooms: Produce spores; some are edible, others poisonous
10. What is the significance of fungi in human society?
- Food production (bread, cheese, beer, wine)
- Medicine (antibiotics like penicillin)
- Bioremediation (breaking down pollutants)
- Agriculture (mycorrhizal associations improve plant growth)
- Industry (enzyme and organic acid production)
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of protist worksheet.
