Algae to Animals

Objectives

• Give an overview of plant-like protists
• Describe habitats of fungi
• Give an overview of fungi classification
• Give an overview of animal classification

Algae

Algae examples

• Diatoms (unicellular)
• Seaweed (multicellular)

Algae Characteristics

• Contain chloroplasts
• Undergo photosynthesis
• No roots, stems, or leaves
• Some have pseudopods or flagella
• Probably ancestor to plants

Algae Ecology

• Main component in plankton
• Kelp can grow as large as trees

Algae Classification

• Red and green algae
• Euglenids
• Dinoflagellates

Algae Reproduction

• Asexual for rapid population growth
• Sexual when environment is changing

Fungi

Most fungi are multicellular but some are unicellular. Unicellular fungi are yeast.

Fungi spend most of life in haploid state except for sexual reproduction.

Fungi have cell walls made of the carbohydrate chitin.

Fungi and bacteria are the primary decomposers of organic materials in the terrestrial ecosystems, returning nutrients to the soil.

Animals

Eight phyla only include invertebrates. Invertebrates make up about 95% of animal species.

All vertebrates are in the phylum Chordata, which also includes some invertebrates.