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A mixotroph is an organism that can use a mix of different sources of energy and carbon, instead of having a single trophic mode on the continuum from complete autotrophy at one end to heterotrophy at the other. It is estimated that mixotrophs comprise more than half of all microscopic plankton.
Protozoan - Mixotrophy, Nutrition, Autotrophy: All protozoans engage in heterotrophy, but not all protozoans are exclusive heterotrophs. Those that combine autotrophy (self-sustaining food production from a carbon source and inorganic nitrogen) and heterotrophy (ingesting other organisms to acquire carbon) are known as mixotrophs. The degree of mixotrophy in a protozoan varies from complete ...
- Evolutionary Relationships. In the phylogenetic tree above (Figure \\(\\PageIndex{1}\\)), protists do not share a common ancestry. Slime molds share a more recent evolutionary history with fungi and animals, while red and green algae are more closely related to land plants than they are to the brown algae (located in the Stramenopiles group).
- Cell Structure. The cells of protists are among the most elaborate of all cells. Most protists are microscopic and unicellular, but some true multicellular forms exist (such as in the brown algae, Phaeophyta).
- Metabolism. Protists exhibit many forms of nutrition and may be aerobic or anaerobic. Protists that store energy by photosynthesis belong to a group of photoautotrophs and are characterized by the presence of chloroplasts.
- Motility. The majority of protists are motile, but different types of protists have evolved varied modes of movement (Figure \\(\\PageIndex{3}\\)). Some protists have one or more flagella, which they rotate or whip.
Some protists can function as mixotrophs, obtaining nutrition by photoautotrophic or heterotrophic routes, depending on whether sunlight or organic nutrients are available. Motility The majority of protists are motile, but different types of protists have evolved varied modes of movement (Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\)).
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Do protists function as mixotrophs?
Are all protists microscopic?
Are protist cells unicellular or multicellular?
Are All protozoans heterotrophs?
- Cell Structure. The cells of protists are among the most elaborate of all cells. Most protists are microscopic and unicellular, but some multicellular forms exist.
- Metabolism. Protists exhibit many forms of nutrition and may be aerobic or anaerobic. Protists that store energy by photosynthesis belong to a group of photoautotrophs and are characterized by the presence of chloroplasts.
- Motility. Most protists are motile, but different types of protists have evolved different modes of movement (Figure \\(\\PageIndex{6}\\)). Some protists have one or more flagella, which they rotate or whip.
- Life Cycles. Protists reproduce by many mechanisms. Most undergo some form of asexual reproduction, such as binary fission, to produce two daughter cells.
Some protists can function as mixotrophs, obtaining nutrition by photoautotrophic or heterotrophic routes, depending on whether sunlight or organic nutrients are available. Motility The majority of protists are motile, but different types of protists have evolved varied modes of movement ( (Figure) ).
Apr 29, 2024 · Protist, any member of a group of diverse eukaryotic, predominantly unicellular microscopic organisms. They may share certain morphological and physiological characteristics with animals or plants or both. The term protist typically is used in reference to a eukaryote that is not a true animal,
