Microbial Life: Prokaryotes and Protists - Renz Science

16.12 CONNECTION: Bacteria can be used asbiological weapons Clostridium botulinum produces the exotoxinbotulinum, the deadliest poison on earth.PROTISTS Botulinum blocks transmission of nerve signals andprevents muscle contraction.© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.16.13 Protists are an extremely diverse assortmentof eukaryotes Protists– are a diverse collection of mostly unicellular eukaryotes,– may constitute multiple kingdoms within the Eukarya,and– refer to eukaryotes that are not– plants,– animals, or– fungi.16.13 Protists are an extremely diverse assortmentof eukaryotes Protists obtain their nutrition in many ways. Protistsinclude– autotrophs, called algae, producing their food byphotosynthesis,– heterotrophs, called protozoans, eating bacteria andother protists,– heterotrophs, called parasites, deriving their nutritionfrom a living host, and– mixotrophs, using photosynthesis and heterotrophy.© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.© 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.Figure 16.13AFigure 16.13A_1AutotrophyAutotrophyHeterotrophyMixotrophyCaulerpa, a green algaGiardia, a parasiteEuglenaCaulerpa, a green alga13