Algae and protists include many unicellular and multicellular photoautotrophic species that lack differentiated tissues and are separated into phyla by color, with some forming the base of marine ecosystems and being responsible for much oxygen production, while fungus-like protists include cellular slime molds that live as individual cells but cluster for sexual reproduction, plasmodial slime molds that move as groups on forest floors, and water molds with branching cells that mostly live in fresh water and can cause crop diseases.

1. Algae and Protisian Molds

2. Algae Photoautotrophic Protists Many unicellular species and multicelular species Lack differentiated tissues Separated into phyla by their major color

3. Zooplankton Form the base of most marine ecosystems Responsible for much of the Earth’s oxygen production Zooplankton are photosynthetic protozoans Phytoplankton are unicellular algae

4. Plants vs Algae Autotrophic Eukaryotic Contain Chlorophyll Different cell wall materials Different pigments Many unicellular species Same Different

5. Fungus-like Protists Cellular Slime Mold, Plasmodial Slime Mold, and Water Molds Most saprophotic, some parasitic

6. Cellular Slime molds Cellular slime molds- normally live as ameboid individual cells Cluster in times of stress to sexually reproduce

7. Plasmodial Slime Molds Moves as a group Live mostly on forest floors Not made from individual cells Forms sexually reproductive structures in times of stress

8. Water molds Branching cells grouped together Mostly live in fresh water Infamous for causing the Irish Potato Famine