Pre-Lab 11 Assessment: Kingdom Protista Survey
Name:
Section:
Please read the lab in its entirety and answer the following questions to the best of your
ability.
1. What is locomotion? What is the function of a cilia, flagella, and pseudopodia?
2. What is the difference between a heterotroph and autotroph? Provide some organisms that
fall under each category.
3. What is Giardia lamblia? How is this organism transmitted?
4. How are protists unique? Provide detailed examples.
5. What is one advantage and disadvantage of a parasitic lifestyle?
Laboratory Eleven
Kingdom Protista
Survey
Purpose
The purpose of this laboratory is to learn about the Kingdom Protista through observation and
analysis. You will be observing various organisms, both alive and preserved, and recording your
data. Through analysis and the readings, you will gain a better understanding and appreciation for
the various organisms within this kingdom.
Introduction
Kingdom Protista
Since the beginning of the human species, microscopic organisms have inhabited earth and thrived.
In fact, single-celled eukaryotes date back to approximately 2 billion years ago. Noting the age of
the Earth, approximately 4.5 billion years old, they have inhabited a massive time in the
development of Earth. Kingdom Protista consists of a group of diverse microscopic organisms that
inhabit all environments. They are eukaryotic, meaning they have a well-defined nucleus that
contains DNA; and they are also mostly unicellular organisms (there are colonial and multicellular
forms). Most protists reproduce asexually via mitotic division. They also have the ability to
reproduce sexually. Protists share many common features with animals, plants, and even fungi;
which makes this group of organisms truly unique. Animal-like protists are known as the Protozoa
(see figure 11.1).
In order to obtain nutrients, protists have adapted to two different lifestyles; there are some protists
that are autotrophs and obtain nutrition via photosynthesis (e.g. algae) and there are heterotrophs
that obtain nutrition via food consumption. Found in the heterotrophs, lies some clinically important
protists that have caused disease and been a nuisance for the human species since its existence;
these organisms are known as parasites. Parasites are organisms that feed and live off a host
organism. Without a host, their means of nutrition and reproduction is halted.
Figure 11.1 A protozoan, Paramecium. Obtained from http://commons.wikimedia.org.
The flagellated protist, Giardia lamblia, is a common intestinal parasite that is normally found in
the gut of a beaver (see figure 11.2). When a human (or other organism) consumes the parasite,
usually via consumption of contaminated water and food, the protist infects the host’s intestinal
tract, feeding off the nutrients found in this location. Symptoms range from severe abdominal pain
to intense flatulence and diarrhea. In order to complete its lifecycle, the protist produces cysts that
are shed in the host’s feces. When another organism consumes the cysts of Giardia lamblia, the
protists lifecycle is complete. There are many protists that are parasites, including some that are
sexually transmitted diseases, such as Trichomonas vaginalis, to others that can cause severe tissue
damage, Leishmania donovani. A very common and clinically important parasitic protist that has
caused millions of deaths in Africa (and other parts of the world) is Plasmodium spp., which causes
the disease malaria.
Another feature of the protists is their ability to move, locomotion. There are several specialized
structures that aid in not only locomotion, but also nutrient consumption.
Figure 11.2 The parasitic protist, Giardia lamblia (arrow). Obtained from
http://commons.wikimedia.org.
Flagellated protists contain a flagella, a whip-like structure, that allows for movement. The protist
Euglena (see figure 11.3) contains a flagella that moves in a corkscrew manner to propel the protist
through the aquatic environment. Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas vaginalis are both parasitic
flagellates. Amoeboid protists move in an irregular, globular manner and contain pseudopodia,
which aid in nutrient consumption and locomotion (see figure 11.3). A rare but extremely deadly
amoeboid, Naegleria fowleri, has been known to cause primary amebic meningoencephalitis, which
causes the break down of brain tissue and ultimately the death of the host. The final group, known
as ciliates, contains cilia (tiny hairs) that are commonly found throughout the surface of the protists
body and aid in nutrient consumption and locomotion. An example of a ciliate is Paramecium
caudatum (figure 11.1 and 11.3). A unique feature found within the ciliates is the presence of a
macronucleus and a micronucleus. Ciliates are free-living organisms that are non-parasitic.
Figure 11.3 From left to right, A flagellate, Euglena; various amoeba; and the ciliate,
Paramecium caudatum. Obtained from http://commons.wikimedia.org.
Laboratory 11:
Observing Kingdom Protista
Materials for the lab group of 2 students:
Living organisms:
- Euglena
- Volvox
- Amoeba
- Paramecium
compound light microscope
lens paper
lens cleaner
biology photo atlas + textbook
immersion oil
colored pencils
Prepared microscope slides:
- Euglena
- Volvox
- Amoeba
- Paramecium
- Plasmodium spp.
- Giardia lamblia
dirty concave microscope slide beaker
proto-slo
microscope cover slips
concave microscope slides
1. Obtain a biology photo atlas plus your textbook and review the Kingdom Protista
information/illustrations.
2. Take out a compound microscope and obtain a prepared slide of Euglena. Observe the slide
under low, medium, and high magnifications. While under high magnification, draw your
observations below:
PREPARED SLIDE
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Euglena
Observations:
3. Obtain a concave slide. Using the provided pipette, aliquot a small amount of liquid from the
container labeled “Euglena” and place a drop or two onto the center of the concave slide (on to the
circular concave toward the center). Place a cover slip over the liquid at an angle (to avoid bubbles)
and observe using low, medium, and high magnifications. While under high magnification, draw
(using colored pencils) your observations below:
WET PREPARATION SLIDE (LIVE)
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Euglena
Observations:
4. When you are done making observations, please rinse off the slide and place the equipment back
in its applicable locations.
5. Repeat steps 1-4 for Paramecium. The use of proto-slo might allow you to better observe the
protist (place a drop of proto-slo on the slide just prior to adding the cover slip). Provide
observations below:
PREPARED SLIDE
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Paramecium
Observations:
WET PREPARATION SLIDE (LIVE)
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Paramecium
Observations:
6. Repeat steps 1-4 for Amoeba. The use of proto-slo might allow you to better observe the protist
(place a drop of proto-slo on the slide just prior to adding the cover slip). Provide observations
below:
PREPARED SLIDE
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Amoeba
Observations:
WET PREPARATION SLIDE (LIVE)
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Amoeba
Observations:
7. Repeat steps 1-4 for Volvox. Provide observations below:
PREPARED SLIDE
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Volvox
Observations:
WET PREPARATION SLIDE (LIVE)
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Volvox
Observations:
8. Obtain a prepared slide of Giardia lamblia. Observe the slide under low, medium, and high
magnifications. Switch to the oil immersion lens and place a drop of immersion oil onto the
prepared slide. Draw your observations below:
PREPARED SLIDE
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Giardia lamblia
Observations:
9. Obtain a prepared slide of Plasmodium spp. Observe the slide under low, medium, and high
magnifications. Switch to the oil immersion lens and place a drop of immersion oil onto the
prepared slide. Draw your observations below:
PREPARED SLIDE
Date:
Laboratory partner:
Magnification:
Organism: Plasmodium spp.
Observations:
Post-Lab 11 Assessment: Kingdom Protista Survey
Name
Section
After completing the laboratory assignment, please re-read the lab in its entirety and answer
the following questions to the best of your ability.
Student name:_______________________
1. Name the means of locomotion for each organism:
A. Paramecium:
B. Volvox
C. Amoeba:
D. Euglena:
2. Name three examples of parasitic protists. What hosts do they infect? Where in the host’s
body are they found?
3. What are the circular structures seen next to the Plasmodium spp. on the prepared slide?
What does this say about the protist?
4. Why do you think Giardia lamblia have flagella? What function might flagella serve?
References
Cdc.gov
Commons.wikimedia.org
Gunstream, S. (2012). Explorations in Basic Biology. (12th Ed.).San Francisco, CA: Pearson
Education.
Rydene, H. (2010). Introduction to Biology Lab Procedures (and other important
information). (5th ed.). New York, NY: Freeman Custom Publishing.
Simon, E., Dickey, J., & Reece, J. (2013). Campbell Essential Biology with Physiology.
(4th Edition). Pearson Education.