Chapter 24 - Introduction

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To fully appreciate this tutorial, you should be familiar with the concepts of:
• Eukaryotic cell characteristics
• How cells make ATP (energy-releasing pathways)
• Photosynthesis

After this tutorial, you will be able to describe:
• Major differences between groups of protistans
• Similarities between protistan groups
• The role of protistans in ecosystems

What are protistans?

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Evolution and diversity
Protozoa
Algae
Slime molds and water molds
Summary

In 1996, dead manatees began to wash ashore on the Florida Gulf Coast. Eventually, scientists linked the death of the manatees with a population explosion of a small unicellular organism known as a dinoflagellate, a type of algae. Protozoa, algae, and slime molds are all members of a group of organisms referred to as "protistans." The aim of this tutorial is to introduce you to the similarities and differences among the major groups of protistans.