Lab Topic 15
Diversity  Among Protists

Clade Diplomonadida
No representatives studied this semester
Clade Parabasala

Trichomonas vaginalis, 40x (unit scale 15 um)
Trichomonas vaginalis, 100x with oil immersion

A human pathogen transmitted during sexual intercourse, note prominent nucleus and flagella

Clade Euglenozoa
Phylum Euglenophyta
Genus Euglena
Euglena culture, 40X
Euglena culture 40X, note eye spots, (scale 10 um)
 

Euglena, 100X oil immersion, note flagella, eye spots, & chloroplasts
How does Euglena move?
Is Euglena an autotroph or heterotroph, and how do you know?
 
Phylum Kinetoplastida
Genus Trypanosoma lewis
 
 
A: Trypanosoma lewis at 40X (scale 12 um); B: red blood cells
  
 
This organism causes what human disease?
 
     
 
Clade Alveolata
 
Phylum Ciliophora (commonly known as ciliates)

Genus Paramecium

 
     
     

Genus Stentor

 
Stentor showing macronucleus, cilia, and food vacuoles
     
     
Genus Vorticella
Vorticella with stalk extended.
Vorticella with stalk partially contracted.
     

Clade Stramenopila
Phylum Bacillariophyta (Commonly known as Diatoms)
The diatoms above are from diatomaceous earth at 10x, 40x and 100x with oil. They are often mined from fossil deposits & used for polishes or in paints.
The images above are scanning electron micrographs of diatoms. Note the intricate structure of these protists.
This is an image of live diatoms found in a local pond. Each diatom in this image is approximately 20 um.
 
Clade Rhodophyta
Phylum Rhodophyta
The images below are herbarium specimens of red algae
 
Clade Chlorophyta
Phylum Chlorophyta

Colonial Series

Genus Chlamydomonas

Chlamydomonas showing flagella and nucleus

Genus Volvox
How does Volvox differ from Chlamydomonas?

Filamentous Series

Genus Oedogonium

  Oedogonium, a multicellular, green alga, showing zygote
Antheridium and Oogonium of Oedogonia (scale 20 um)
 
 
 
Live Oedogonium at 20x
Live Oedogonioum at 40X

Leafy Series

Genus Ulva

Common name is sea lettuce. Is this organism autotrophic or heterotrophic and how can you tell?
     

  Clade Amoebozoa  
 
Amoeba Group (Gymnamoeba-- Entamoeba)
 
Above: Various photos of amoebas. Note absence of cell wall and pseudopodia. 
     
 

Phylum Myxogastridia

 

Genus Physarum

Common name: slime mold, growing on an agar and fed with oatmeal. Image to the far right is slime with developing sporangia.

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