Kingdom: Protista

Introduction

Click here to go to the lecture notes on protists. You may also click on the organism name to view more information about that organism in the notes.

Protists are eukaryotes. As you observe the specimens, notice that the cells are larger and more complex than those of procaryotes.

Kinetoplastids

Trypanosoma is a zooflagellate that causes African sleeping sickness. Observe and draw a prepared slide of Trypanosoma taken from a human blood sample.

Trypanosoma gambiense*

Euglenids

Observe and draw a prepared slide of Euglena.

Euglena*

Dinoflagellates

Observe and draw a preserved slide of mixed dinoflagellates.

A dinoflagellate
Peridinium (a dinoflagellate)

Ciliates

Observe and draw prepared slides of Paramecium caudatum and Vorticella.

Paramecium caudatum*
Conjugation in Paramecium
Vorticella

Diatoms

Observe and draw a preserved slide of diatoms.

Mixed diatoms

Brown Algae

The following brown algae specimens are preserved. Remove them from the jar and observe and draw them.

Fucus, Macrocystis, Nereocystis, Sargassam, Laminaria

Fucus*
Fucus*
Sargassam
Macrocystis
Nereocystis
Laminarma

Foraminiferans

A foraminiferan test (shell)

Radiolarians

Observe and draw a prepared slide of radiolarians. Shells made of silica will be visible on the slide.

Radiolarians

Gymnamoebas

Observe and draw a prepared slide of Amoeba proteus.

Amoeba proteus*

Plasmodial Slime Molds

Observe and draw Physarum growing in a petri dish.

Physarum polycephalum

Red Algae

Some red algae secrete calcium carbonate and may contribute to the development of coral reefs. Observe and draw Corallina.

Corallina*
Ceramium

Green Algae

Chlamydomonas is a unicellular green alga. Observe and draw a prepared slide of Chlamydomonas.

Click on the photographs below to view enlargements. Click the "Back" button to return here.

Chlamydomonas*
Chlamydomonas*  showing flagella

Spirogyra is a filamentous form. Observe and draw live Spirogyra.

Spirogyra* (live) X 40
Spirogyra* (live) X 200

Observe and draw a prepared slide of Spirogyra conjugating. Be able to explain how the structures that you observe relate to the life cycle discussed in lecture. Click here to go to the notes on the Spirogyra life cycle.

Spirogyra conjugation

Volvox is a colonial form. Observe and draw live Volvox.

Volvox* (live) X 100
Volvox*

Ulva is multicellular. Observe and draw a preserved specimen of Ulva. You will need to remove it from the container.

Ulva*