Direction: Clearly and briefly explain the following in a paragraph.
1. What are protists? (Provide a few examples of the most common Protoctista symbiotic associations)
2. Describe the nature of symbiosis between flagellates and wood eating roaches and termites.
3. Distinguish between intestinal flagellates and hemoflagellates with examples.
1. Protists are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms that have traditionally been classified as the kingdom Protoctista. They are typically single-celled organisms, but can also form colonies or multicellular structures. Protists play important ecological roles as primary producers, consumers, and decomposers. Some examples of the most common Protoctista symbiotic associations include lichens, which are formed by a partnership between a fungus and an alga or cyanobacterium, and coral reefs, which consist of a symbiotic relationship between coral polyps and photosynthetic protozoa called zooxanthellae.
2. The symbiosis between flagellates and wood eating roaches and termites is characterized by mutualistic interactions. The flagellates reside in the hindgut of these insects and help break down cellulose, which is abundant in wood. While the insects provide a suitable environment and a constant supply of food for the flagellates, the flagellates produce enzymes that can digest cellulose, allowing the insects to obtain nutrients from wood. This mutualistic relationship enables both the flagellates and the insects to survive and thrive in their respective environments.
3. Intestinal flagellates and hemoflagellates are two types of flagellates that differ in their preferred habitat and mode of transmission. Intestinal flagellates, as the name suggests, reside in the intestines of animals, including humans. Some examples of intestinal flagellates include Giardia lamblia and Trichomonas lis, which can cause intestinal infections in humans. On the other hand, hemoflagellates are flagellates that live in the blood or tissues of animals, typically transmitted through the bites of insects, such as mosquitoes or flies. Examples of hemoflagellates include Trypanosoma and Leishmania, which are responsible for diseases like African sleeping sickness and leishmaniasis, respectively.