Funguslike Protists Heterotrophs Absorb nutrients from dead or
decaying organic matter Lack the chitin cell walls of true fungi
Have centrioles unlike true fungi who lack them
Slide 3
Slime Molds Found in damp places that are rich in organic
matter (forest floor, compost pile) Play key roles in the recycling
of organic material part of their life they resemble amoebas and at
times form moldlike clumps that release spores like fungi. 2 main
groups: Cellular slime molds Acellular slime molds
Slide 4
Cellular Slime Molds Belong to phylum Acrasiomycota spend most
of life as a free-living cell that resembles an amoeba. When food
is scarce they reproduce spores that can survive adverse conditions
Send out chemical messages that attract other cells of same species
which aggregate into a colony that behaves like a single organism
Colony produces fruiting bodies to release spores each of which can
become a new amoeba like cell.
Slide 5
Slide 6
Acellular Slime Molds Belong to phylum Myxomycota Similar to
cellular slime molds except. When the amoeba like cells aggregate
their cells fuse to produce a structure with many nuclei known as a
plasmodium Fruiting bodies spring up from the plasmodium
Slide 7
Slide 8
Water Molds Belong to phylum Oomycota Live on dead or decaying
organic matter in water Some are plant parasites
Slide 9
One water mold caused the infamous Irish potato famine
Phytophthora infestans