The following
questions will help you to review the material from the lecture as well
as the text. Make sure to take a look at the links to the images and the
web sites at the end of the page.
Approximately how long ago
did
the first protists appear in the fossil record?
The protists differ in some
major
aspects compared to the prokaryotic life forms that preceded them.
Point
out three new major characteristics that evolved in the protists.
The protists are
traditionally
divided into protozoa, algae and slime molds. Why is this considered
to
be an incorrect and artificial grouping of these organisms?
Explain the concept of the
endosymbiotic
theory.
What is a cyst? Function?
Trichonympha is a
fascinating
organism that is ecologically important. Describe its symbiotic
relationship
with termites.
Trypanosoma is linked
to
several major diseases. Explain.
Briefly describe the amoebas
and
give some examples of protists that exemplify the taxon.
What are amoebas? Where are
they
found? How do they move? How do they gain access to nutrients?
Describe the structure of
Foraminiferans.
How do the differ from sarcodines (amoebas)?
Why are the forams so
important
within the marine environment?
How are the white cliffs of
Dover
(in England) related to forams?
Heliozoans are named well
:"sun
animals". Explain. How do heliozoans capture food?
Define plankton. What kind of
organisms are represented by plankton?
Describe the features of the
Radiolarians.
These organisms have an extensive fossil record. Explain why.
Radiolarians and heliozoans
have
numerous extensions reaching out into the surrounding water. What is
the
functional purpose of these extensions?
The phylum Apicomplexa
contains
numerous parasitic species. The main characteristic of the
taxon
is the so called apical complex. What is an apical complex and what
is
its function?
Describe the life cycle of Plasmodium
in
detail. Name all life stages. Make a distinction between the sexual
and
asexual part of the life cycle.
Briefly describe the
ciliates.
Examples? How do they move?
Use Paramecium as an
example
to describe movement and feeding in a ciliate.
