Kingdom PROTISTA

This last week we did module #3! And its all about Kingdom Protista. There are two subkingdoms in Protista. (Note: subkingdom is not a phyla)

• Subkingdom Protozoa
  
• subkingdom Algae

And in side both of these subkingdoms there are 9 major phyla. For subkingdom Protozoa there is 4 major phyla:

• Mastigophora
  
• Sarcodina
  
• Ciliophora
  
• Sporozoa
  

There phyla are distinguished from one another based on their organisms' method of locomotion.
For subkingdom Algae there is 5 major phyla:

• Chlorophyta
• Chrysophyta
• Pyrrophyta
• Phaeophyta
  
• Rhodophyta

Organisms are separated into these phyla based on habitat, organization, and type of cell wall.

In one of our phyla in subkingdom Protozoa: Sarcodina- there is a cell called Amoeba proteus
These cells are so cool! They have a standard body shape, and they are enclosed in a flexibel plasma membrane that lets them change shape whenever they want. When they want to move, they form extentions out of their bodies called pseudopods
Pseudopod- A temporary, foot-like extension of a cell, used for locomotion or engulfing food
This cell is considered eukaryotic because it is so nicely organized inside.

Another cell in subkingdom Protozoa, phyla Mastigophora, is Euglena. These organisms can be found in marine waters, fresh water, and/or moist soil. Members of this genus can produce their own food, by photosynthesis. Though they are photosynthetic we dont consider them to be autotrophic... because in certain curcumstances they can ingest and decompose remains of dead organisms. Even though they can do this, sometimes they obsorb food from their surroundings! As you can see, they have many ways to get food, so we dont have to worry about them surviving! One of the ways it can decide which way he will get his food is with his eyespot
Eyespot- A light-sensitive region in certan protozoa
So they can see if there is light so they can use photosynthesis, or if its dark they can take from their surroundings or they can find dead remains.
Euglena's is a flagellate
Flagellate- A protozoan that propels itself with a flagellum
This cell is very complex, and we just barely touched the surface!

The experiment we did on Friday was EXPERIMENT 3.2
we look at prepared slides for an Amoeba, Paramecium, Euglena and Volvox cells! it was so cool! my favorite was the Volvox, on the slide it was bright pink

It seems like there is just not enough time to soak up everything there is to learn! These modules dont waist a second... there always telling us something totally fasinating! I really love science this year! Thanks to all who help--
Hannah