**BIO 1060 - Protist Characteristics Table** | Characteristics | Algae | Slime Molds/ Water Molds | Protozoa | |----------------------------------------------|--------------------------------|--------------------------|---------------| | | Dinoflagellates | Diatoms | Brown Algae | Green Algae | | Ciliates | Apicomplexans | | Photoautotrophic or Heterotrophic | | | | | | | | | Unicellular, Colonial or Multicellular? | | | | | | | | | Motility/ Mode? | | | | | | | | | Environment or Habitat | | | | | | | | | Freshwater or Marine (or both) | | | | | | | | | Parasitic (Yes, No or Some) | | | | | | | | | Other Important Features or Facts | | | | | | | | | Representative Organisms (Species) | | | | | | | |

Introduction :- Algae are photosynthetic organisms , either unicellular or multicellular organisms. They lacks a well-defined body, so, structures like roots, stems or leaves are absent. Algae reproduces by both asexual and sexual reproduction forms , in this the asexual reproduction occurs by spore formation . Algae can photosynthesize ( performs the photosynthesis) like plants, and they possess specialized structures and cell-organelles, like centrioles and flagella. The examples of algae include the giant kelp ,diatoms, Euglena and Dinoflagellates. Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotic microorganisms that lacks a cell wall and belongs to the Kingdom Protista. Answer :- Explanation :- Algae are eukaryotic organisms that have no roots, stems, or leaves but do have chlorophyll and other pigments for carrying out photosynthesis , thats why they are known as photo-autotrophic . Algae can be multicellular or unicellular. The pant body of algae is known as thallus , so they are also referred to as eukaryotic thallophytes. There are many factors and basis for classifying the algae , like - the habitat (aquatic, either freshwater or marine and some are terrestrial) . The main and important difference between the red , brown and green algae is that red algae contain chlorophyll a, chlorophyll d, and phyco-erythrin, while the brown algae contain chlorophyll a, chlorophyll c, and fucoxanthin and green algae contain chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and xanthophylls. Diatoms and dinoflagellates are single celled , phytoplanktonic organism's. Diatoms have a theca covering the cell, which acts as an external cell wall while dinoflagellates have special features such as the ability to produce neurotoxins and ability for bioluminescence.