1

CLASSIFICATION

KAMUGISHA JP
BUTIMBA DAY Secondary
 Definition and Importance
2
Classification is the system of sorting out and placing organisms into
different groups on the basis of their similarities and differences.
The Importance of Classifying Living Things
Classification makes the study of living things easy
Classification makes communication easy among biologists from
different parts of the world
It helps man to arrange the information about living organisms in an
orderly manner to avoid confusion
It provides good organized system in which a newly identified
organism can be easily fitted in future.
It makes it easier to identify organisms
It can be used to predict characteristics that are present in the
members of the same group.
 Classification Systems
3
There are two systems of classification
 Artificial classification
 Natural classification

Artificial classification
Is the type of classification which is based on the observable features only.
Thus it is based on easy and simple characteristics of identification. Such
type of classification which is based on observable features is known as
Phenetic approach

Artificial classification is designed for practical purpose with an emphasis

on convenience and simplicity.
 In this type of classification, unrelated organisms are often placed in the
same group while closely related organisms are often placed in different
groups.
Cont…
4
Natural classification
Natural classification is the type of classification which
based on the evolutionary trend or sequence. Such type of
classification which is based on evolutionary trend is
known as Phylogenic Approach.
In this system, classification is based on evolutionary
relationship and the presence of a large number of
common and similar characteristic features that show
homology and are distinguished from those that exhibit
analogy.
Cont…
5
Homology refers to similarity in characteristics resulting from
common ancestry. For example similar skeletal elements make
up the forelimbs of humans, cats, whale and all other
mammals, although their appendages have very different
functions. Such anatomical signs of evolution are called
homologous structures.
Homologous structures are structures that perform different
functions but have similar ancestral origin
e.g. forelimbs of a man and the wings of a bird. The
comparison of body structures between species confirms that
evolution is a remodeling process. Therefore animals that are
closely related in many ways are placed in the same natural
group.
Cont…
6
Analogy refers to similarity in functions between
organisms though they involve from different ancestry or
origin. The fossil records show that bat wings and bird
wings evolved independently from walking forelimbs of
different ancestors. Such anatomical signs of evolution
are called analogous structures.
Analogous structures are structures that perform similar
functions though they have different ancestral/origin.
Because bats, birds and flying insects are distantly related
cannot be placed in one natural group.
 Merits and Demerits of artificial
Classification System
7

Merits/Advantages
1.It is easy to classify organisms since it
is based on few observable characteristics.

2.It does not take much time to classify organisms based on

this system (not time consuming).
3.It does not need expertise (even a layman can do).

4.It is relatively stable i.e. not easily changing from time to

time.
Cont…
8
Demerits/Disadvantage of artificial classification
1.It tends to place closely related organisms into different
groups instead of being grouped together
e.g. a bat can be placed in a group of birds instead of
mammals.
2.Different or unrelated organisms may be placed in the
same group e.g. bats placed in a group of birds, worms
placed with snakes in the same group
3.The system does not provide enough information about
its members.
4.It is difficult to incorporate additional information.
Merits and demerits of natural system of classification
9
Merits/Advantages of natural classification
1. Closely related organisms are placed in the
same group.

2. It reflects evolutionary relationships.

3. Unrelated organisms cannot be placed in the

same group.

4. It makes it easy to incorporate additional

information.
Cont…
10
Demerits/Disadvantages of natural classification

1.It is difficult since it considers many features.

2.It requires expertise i.e. more knowledge about an

organism.

3.It is time consuming.

4.It is relatively unstable i.e. it changes from time to time.

5.It is more expensive since more data are required

 Differences between natural classification and artificial
classification
11

Artificial classification Natural classification

1. Considers few features in 1.Considers many features in

common common
2. Does not reflect on 2.Reflects on evolutionary
evolutionary relationships relationships
3. It is easy to classify 3.It is difficult to classify
4.Not time consuming 4.It is time consuming
5.Does not require expertise 5.Requires expertise
6. New information cannot be 6.New information can be
added added.
 MAJOR GROUPS OF LIVING THINGS
12
The major groups of living things are the kingdoms.
Previously, living things were categorized into two main
groups; plantae and animalia kingdom
But this classification caused difficulties since some
organisms seemed to posses some of the characteristics of
both groups. For example, euglena is capable of feeding
like an animal and locomote like an animal
 Therefore, it is placed in animalia kingdom
But the same euglena has chlorophyll and it is capable of
manufacturing its own food. Therefore, it should also be
placed in plantae kingdom
Cont…
13
Such an organism does not seem to fit exactly in
animalia or plantae kingdom. Thus, euglenas are
assigned in the major group of their own.
Currently, there are five major groups (kingdoms) of
living things.
1.Kingdom monera
2.Kingdom protoctista
3.Kingdom fungi
4.Kingdom plantae
5.Kingdom animalia
 Ranks of Classification
14
In the millions of organisms found on earth some are
more similar while others are less similar. For example,
all human beings resemble each other more closely than
they resemble with the chimpanzees.

. Humans have more resemblance with chimpanzee than

cats and dogs, and more like dogs than birds.

Therefore when classifying the organisms, groups are

established which are called ranks or taxa.
 RANKS OF CLASSIFICATION
15

There are seven ranks of classification

1. Kingdom

2. Phylum/division

3. Class

4. Order

5. Family

6. Genus

7. Species
Cont…
16
1.Kingdom- this is the highest rank (taxon). It comprises of several
related taxa. It comprises of many organisms than any other taxon.

2.Phylum/division– this is the second largest rank of classification. It

consists of several closely related classes.

N.B: The term division is used by botanists instead of phylum when

classifying plants or organisms related to plants.

3.Class - members or this group have more characteristics in common

than do members of division or phylum
Cont…
17
4. Order- it consists of groups that are more alike than those in a
class.

5.Family –this is made up of groups that are more alike than those in
the order. Wolves and cats are both in the order Carnivore but wolves
are in the family Canidae while cats belong to the family Felidae.

6.Genus – it consists of very similar species but members of

different species cannot breed one another

7.Species – Species can be defined as a group of closely related

organisms which are capable of interbreeding and produce fertile
offspring.
Cont…
18

Organisms placed in the same species must have the

following characteristics:

 Must have many features in common.

 Must be able to interbreed one another to produce fertile

offspring.

 Must be distinct and different from other organisms.

Classification of some members of animals
19
 SCIENTIFIC NAMING OF LIVING ORGANISMS
20
The scientific process of naming organisms is called
nomenclature. Biological nomenclature is based on the
binomial system (double naming system) pioneered by the
work of a Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus (1707-1778).
Biologists assign scientific names to organisms so as to
avoid confusion among themselves since scientists from
different countries use different languages. The scientific
names are uniform in all languages.
Latin language is used in assigning the scientific name
because it is an official language and that this language is
no longer subject to changes; it is considered to be a dead
language hence names once given remain unchanged.
 RULES OF BINOMIAL NOMENCLATURE

21

1. Scientific names of organisms must be in Latin language and if the names are
derived from other languages, they must be latinized.
2. A scientific name of an organism has two parts, genus name and species
name.

3. A genus name always starts with a capital letter and a species name follows
with a small letter.

4. In typed scripts, a scientific name must be written in italics or underlined if

hand written.

5. A specific name is sometimes accompanied with the name of the author who
first described and named the organism.

6. When an organism is known by several names, the valid name is the one
which was established after the work of Linnaeus.
 Scientific names of some common organism
22

COMMON NAME SCIENTIFIC NAME

Coconut plant Cocos nucifera
Mango tree Mangifera indica
Garlic plant Allium sativum
Pea plant Pisum sativum
Domestic cat Felis catus
House fly Musca domestica
lion Panther leo
donkey Equus asinus
 VIRUSES
23
Viruses were discovered by a Russian botanist D. I.
Ivanovsky and a Dutchman Beijerink.
In 1852 Ivanovsky prepared an infectious extract from
tobacco plants that were suffering from mosaic disease.
When the extract was passed through a filter able to
prevent the passage of bacteria, the filtered fluid was still
infectious.
 1898 Beijerink gave the name “virus” (in latin means,
“poison”) to describe the infectious nature of certain
filtered plant fluids.
 General and Distinctive Features of Viruses
24
1. They are the smallest living organisms ranging from 20-30nm. On average,
they are about 50times smaller than bacteria.
2. Viruses do not have cellular structures, which mean that they lack certain
important organelles like nucleus, cytoplasm, golgi bodies, etc.
3. They can only reproduce inside the living cells hence they are parasitic.
4. They have a simple structure consisting of either DNA or RNA but not both,
surrounded by a protein or lipoprotein coat.
5. They can be described as living or non-living.

6. They are highly specific to their hosts i.e. each virus recognizes only certain
types of cells.
7. Viruses are capable of replicating themselves only when they are inside the
host cell.
 Viruses as living things
25

1.They possess genetic material (RNA or DNA).

2.They reproduce when they are in the host cell (replication).

3.They are capable of identifying their hosts and attack them.

4.They can undergo mutation (they mutate) i.e.they undergo

different changes in shape.

5.Like other parasites, they are specific to host.

 Viruses as non-living things
26

1.They can crystallize outside the host.

2.They are metabolically inert in isolation.

3.They are non-cellular i.e. they lack cell organelles.

4.They do not perform necessary life processes such as

respiration, excretion nutrition etc.
 The Structure of Viruses
27
Generally viruses have a very simple structure consisting of the
following:
1.RNA or DNA which may be single stranded or double stranded. They
form a structure called core.

2.Capsid protective protein coat surrounding the core

3.A nucleocapsid which is a combined structure of core and capsid.

4.Envelope – an additional layer of lipoprotein layer around the capsid.

5.Capsids are made up of identical repeating units known as capsomeres.

 Bacteriophage
28
Bacteriophage is a virus that attacks and kills bacteria.
Some of them have head with a tail sheath.
 How virus Reproduce

29

Attachment: The virus attaches itself onto the host cell in

the case of bacteriophage it attaches to the bacterium
Entry: The virus forms a hole in the membrane or cell wall
of the host releases its genetic material into the host cell.
Synthesis: the virus genetic material is used to make new
viral genetic material and proteins for the new virus being
produced.(the host cell DNA becomes deactivated)
Assembly: new viruses are made inside the host cell.
Release: The host cell bursts and dies releasing new
viruses. The bursting is called lysis.
Cont…
30
 Economic Importance of Viruses
31
Advantages of viruses
 Viruses are used in developing vaccines, for example, vaccines for
measles; polio and rubella are made from viruses that have been
attenuated (weakened).
 Viruses are used as biological weapons to kill organisms.
 They are used as vectors in genetic engineering to transfer genes from
one organism to another for improving or treating the defective genes.
 Bacteriophages are viruses that attack bacteria and hence they help in
controlling infections and diseases.
 Viruses are used as biological weapons in wars and in biological pest
control.
 They are useful in the study of cellular and molecular biology
Cont…
32

Disadvantages of viruses
1. Most viruses cause diseases to both plants and animals.
Plant disease such tomato mosaic, cassava mosaic and
tobacco mosaic; and animal diseases e.g. measles, small
pox, poliomyelitis and yellow fever are caused by viruses.
2. They can reproduce very fast, leading to large scale
epidemics.
3. Virus can attack themselves often and this become
difficult to destroy eg there are many different types of
viruses that cause common cold and influenza, this makes
it difficult to develop vaccines or cures for these
infections.
 33

KINGDOM
MONERA
Cont…
34
This kingdom is made up of organisms known as
bacteria (singular: bacterium).
They are the most ancient and smallest organisms with a
cellular structure. They are mainly single celled. Bacteria
occupy many environments such as soil, dust, water and
in the bodies of plants and animals
Some bacteria are found in hot springs where
temperatures are 78ºC or more. Others can withstand very
low temperatures. Some are found in very deep cracks in
the ocean floor, at very high temperatures, about 360ºC
(extreme thermophiles).
 General characteristics of the kingdom Monera

35
1. They are mainly unicellular and very small.
2. They are all prokaryotic (nucleus not bound by membrane)
3. They reproduce by binary fission.
4. Some members of the kingdom are autotrophs while others are
heterotrophs
5. They have cell wall made up of protein material and sometimes lipids.
6. Some bacteria form spores during adverse conditions i.e. extreme
conditions e.g. high or low temperatures, drought etc. The spores allow
them to survive as they have very thick resistant walls.
7. Some are aerobes while others are anaerobes.
8. The genetic material (DNA) is scattered in the cytoplasm and they lack
internal membrane bound organelles such as mitochondria,
chloroplasts, golgi bodies.
 General structure of the bacteria
36

1. Bacteria have strong and rigid cell walls due to the presence
of murein. The wall prevents the cell from bursting when it
absorbs much water (as a result of osmosis).
2. Bacterial cells are bounded by partially permeable
membranes.
3. Bacteria possess capsules which are slimy or gummy. They
have flagella which aid motility of the bacteria. Motile
bacteria can move in response to a certain stimulus i.e. tactic
movement. Flagella can easily be seen by electron
microscope.
4. They have small self replicating circle of extra DNA.
Cont…
37
 Forms of bacteria
38

Bacterial shape is an important aid to

classification.

There are four main shapes;

1. Spherical shaped bacteria
2. Rod shaped bacteria
3. Spiral-shaped bacteria
4. Comma shaped bacteria
 1. Spherical shaped bacteria
39

(a)Micrococcus – exist singly. They cause sore throat

Cont…
40

(b)Diplococci - this type of bacteria exist in pairs. The

pneumococci (Diplococcus pneumoniae) are the only
members. They cause pneumonia.
Cont…
41

(c)Streptococci – this type of bacteria stick together and

form a chain. Most of them infect upper respiratory surface
and cause diseases e.g. sore throat.
Cont…
42

(d)Staphylococci – These bacteria form a grape like bunch.

They cause boils, pneumonia, food poisoning and other
diseases.
 2.Rod shaped bacteria
43

Bacilli (singular: bacillus)

They can be: Single rods, for example, Escherichia coli commonly living in the
gut which cause cramping, diarrhoea and urinary infection. Salmonella typhi
which cause typhoid fever, Mycobacterium tuberculosis which cause TB.
Escherichia coli commonly living in the gut and Salmonella typhi which
cause typhoid fever.
Cont…
44

Rods in chain, for example, Azotobacter, a nitrogen-fixing

bacteria, and Bacillus anthracis which cause the disease
anthrax.
 3. Spiral-shaped bacteria
45

Spirilla (singular: spirillum)

These are spiral-shaped bacteria e.g. Treponema pallidum
which causes syphilis
 4. Comma shaped bacteria
46

These are comma shaped bacteria, for example Vibrio

cholerae.
 Nutrition in bacteria
47
i. Autotrophic bacteria
These make their own food from simple inorganic substance.
Some bacteria use energy from the sun for making food.
These bacteria are known as Photosynthetic bacteria. Some
other bacteria use energy from the chemical reactions in their
bodies, they are known as Chemosynthetic bacteria.
ii. Heterotrophic Bacteria
Some bacteria obtain food from other living things and are
known as Parasites hence Parasitic Bacteria. The bacteria
which obtain nourishment from dead decaying organic matter
are known as Saprophytes hence Saprophytic Bacteria.
 Reproduction in Bacteria
48

Bacteria reproduce by Binary fission.

This is a form of asexual reproduction in which each cell

divides to form two – daughter cells.

In a conductive environment a bacteria population grows

rapidly.
 Conditions necessary for bacterial Growth
49

1. Water (moisture)
2. Food
3. Suitable temperature
4. Suitable pH.

However the population begins to decline after sometime

due to depletion of food resources and production of toxic
waste materials.
 Economic importance of Bacteria
50

Useful Bacteria
1. Some bacteria which live in the soil are decomposers.
They feed on dead decayed Organic matter and release
important elements like nitrogen, carbon, and sulphur to
the soil.
2. Some bacteria dwell on the digestive track of
herbivores, found in caecum eg Escherichia coli.
3. Some bacteria which live in the soil are nitrogen fixing
bacteria, e.g. Azotobacter and Rhizobium.
Cont…
51

4. Some antibiotics are obtained from bacteria, eg

Streptomycin.
5. Others are used to produce flavours in sour milk,
cheese and butter.
6. Bacteria decompose pollutants in sewage systems
and render them harmless.
7. Others are used in fermentation process in silage
making and malting in beer, eg Zymomonas mobilis
Cont…
52
Harmful bacteria
1. Pathogenic bacteria: these bacteria cause
diseases in man and plants.
2. Spoilage bacteria: these bacteria cause food
poisoning
3. Denitrifying Bacteria convert nitrate in the soil
to nitrogen gas making nitrogen unavailable to
plants use.
 KINGDOM PROTOCTISTA
53

Formally, organisms in this kingdom used to be classified

as a Phylum in animal kingdom.
Later on scientists discovered that these organisms have
certain unique characteristics different from those of
animals. Therefore a kingdom was established to cater for
this group of organisms. This kingdom was called
Protista
It comprised of single celled eukaryotes only. This type of
classification locked out green algae, both unicellular and
multicellular forms.
Cont…
54

This necessitated the establishment of a broader

kingdom to include all the organisms formally in the
kingdom protista and the green algae. In this case
Kingdom Protoktista was established.
Other organisms which are included in this kingdom are
Red algae, Brown algae, Slime moulds, Diatoms,
Amoeba, Euglena, Plasmodium, Trypanosome and
Paramecium.
 Characteristics of Kingdom Protoctista
55

1. Most of them are unicellular while some are multicellular.

2. Nutrition is both autotrophic eg euglena and heterotrophic
eg amoeba and paramecium.
3. Reproduction is both asexual and sexual reproduction.
4. They contain clear and visible nucleus.
5. All are eukaryotes.
6. Most have locomotive structures.
7. Their habitat is both aquatic and terrestrial, free living or
symbiotic mode of life.
8. Some use contractile vacuole for osmoregulation.
 PHYLA OF KINGDOM PROTOCTISTA
56

Kingdom Protoctista is made up of single celled

eukaryotic organisms or organisms which are
assemblages of similar cells. The phyla in this
kingdom are as follows:-
1. Phylum Rhizopoda
2. Phylum Ciliophora
3. Phylum apicomplexa
4. Phylum Zoomastigina
5. Phylum Euglenophyta
 1.PHYLUM RHIZOPODA
57
• Rhizopods are unicellular organisms
• They use pseudopodia to move and to feed.
• Amoeba belongs to this phylum of which the common
one is Amoeba proteus.
• Usually, one pseudopodium becomes dominant for a time
and the cell flows into it.
• When the cell encounters food (this could be bacteria,
other protists, or small animals in the case of Amoeba),
more than one of the pseudopodia embrace the food item
and engulf it forming a food vacuole.
Cont…
58
Amoeba:
Amoeba is free living unicellular organisms. They are
found in the bottom of ponds and ditches.
 Characteristics of amoeba
59
1. Amoeba have two layers of cytoplasm the outer most layer is
called ectoplasm and the inner layer is called endoplasm.
2. Amoebas are aquatic, they can be found in salt water and fresh
water.
3. They use pseudopodia for locomotion and to engulf food particles.
4. Contractile vacuole regulates the amount of water in the fresh
water amoeba.
5. A temporary food vacuole is formed to hold and digest food
particles.
6. Waste products are excreted by simple diffusion.
7. Oxygen and carbondioxide are also exchanged by simple
diffusion.
8. Amoeba produced by binary fission.
 Advantages of Amoeba
60

Amoeba is able to engulf harmful particles

which could harm the host.They are used by
physicians and researchers in medical centers.
Commercially some people get some money
when they sell antibiotics which fight against
amoebic diseases.
Source of employment; the physician and nurses
have been employed in health centers for
treating patients of amoebic diseases.
 Disadvantages of Amoeba
61

1. Entamoeba histolytica: Cause amoebic

dysentery. Ulceration, breeding, pain, vomiting
and diarrhea are symptoms of amoebic
dysentery.
2. Entamoeba gingivalis: Cause a dental disease
called periodontal disease, which can be
transmitted by kissing.
 2.PHYLUM CILIOPHORA
62
• Paramecium is said to be one of the most complex cells
in the world.
• An interesting aspect of ciliates is their possession of two
nuclei.
• One is called the micronucleus, and the other is known as
the macronucleus.
• It is currently believed that the micronucleus is involved
with sexual reproduction, while the macronucleus
controls such aspects of the organism's life as growth,
respiration, and asexual reproduction.
• The most well known ciliate is the PARAMECIUM.
Cont…
63
 Characteristics of Paramecium:
64
1.They are unicellular and slipper – shaped.
2.Paramecia are heterotrophic.
3.They live in water.
4.They use cilia to move and to create a feeding current.
5.The body is covered with a pellicle.
6.Food enters the organism through an opening called the
oral groove.
Cont…
65
7.A food vacuole is formed to hold and digest food
particles.
8.Paramecium feed on bacteria and other microorganisms.
9.Undigested food is egested through the anal pore.
10.Paramecium reproduces either sexually or asexually.
11.Contractile vacuoles regulate the amount of water in the
cytoplasm.
Cont…
66
 Advantages of paramecium

i.It feeds on bacteria. This is important in reducing a number of harmful

bacteria.
ii.It is a source of food for some organisms living in water bodies.

 Disadvantages of Paramecium

 Since paramecium is a free living thing, its disadvantages are not well
known.
 However Balentadium coli are type of Paramecium that cause a
disease called
 balantidiasis.
 PHYLUM APICOMPLEXA
67
Sporozoans are parasites; they live at the expense of another
organism.
One of their significant characteristics is that they lack cilia
and flagella.
They generally obtain nutrients by absorbing organic
molecules from the host organism.
Sporozoans often have very complicated life cycles. Take, for
example, the Plasmodium vivax, the organisms responsible
for the disease of malaria.
It grows inside of a mosquito's stomach and after reaching
maturity, migrates to the mosquito's salivary glands where it
releases thousands of small cells called sporozoites
Cont…
68
When the mosquito bites a person, the sporozoites are
transmitted into the human bloodstream.
They enter the liver where they divide and enter red blood
cells. Eventually, they break free from the red blood cells
as gametes (causing the fever associated with malaria).
If a mosquito bites the person at this time, the gametes
can be ingested into the mosquito's stomach where they
unite and grow into new organisms.
There are four species of malaria, namely Plasmodium
vivax, Plasmodium ovale, Plasmodium falciparum and
Plasmodium malariae.
 Characteristics of plasmodium
69

1. They are unicellular organism.

2. They are parasitic with very complex life
cycles involving the host and the vector.
3. They reproduce sexually in the vector and
asexually in the host.
4. When plasmodium enters the human body they
attack the red blood cells and the liver.
 Advantages of Plasmodium
70

1. They are used by physicians and researchers in

medical centers.
2. Commercially, some people get money when
they cell drug which fight against malaria
diseases. iii Source of employment, the
physicians, nurses and pharmacists have been
employed in health
3. Centers for treating patients.
 Disadvantages of Plasmodium
71

1. Plasmodium causes malaria in man and other

species.
2. It is a barrier to national development for a
number of reasons.
3. A lot of money is used to treat people who are
sick from malaria.
4. Instead of doing social and economical
activities people use their time dealing with
malaria.
Diagram of plasmodium
72
 PHYLUM ZOOMASTIGINA
73

Most trypanosomes are harmless organisms that

live commensally within their natural hosts, which
are usually arthropods or vertebrates. Many have
complex life cycles that involve both vertebrate
and invertebrate hosts. Good example of
trypanosome is Trypanosoma lewisi, which is
found in the blood of rats and the gut of fleas at
different stages of its life cycle.
Cont…
74
 PHYLUM EUGLENOPHYTA
75
Euglenophyta small phylum (division) of the kingdom Protoctista,
consisting of mostly unicellular aquatic algae.
Most live in freshwater; many have flagella and are motile.
The outer part of the cell consists of a firm but flexible layer called a
pellicle, or periplast, which cannot properly be considered a cell wall.

Some euglenoids contain chloroplasts that contain the

photosynthetic pigments chlorophyll a and b, as in the phylum
Chlorophyta; others are heterotrophic and can ingest or absorb their
food. Food is stored as a polysaccharide, paramylon.
Reproduction occurs by longitudinal cell division. The most
characterized genus is Euglena, common in ponds and pools,
especially when the water has been polluted by runoff from fields or
lawns on which fertilizers have been used.
Cont…
76
 Characteristics of a Euglena
77

1.They are unicellular.

2.They are found in both fresh water and salty
water.
3.They reproduce asexually.
4.They move using flagella.
5.Some have chloroplast and can photosynthesize.
Cont…
78
 Advantages of Euglena:
i) They are used to treat sewage because of their unique capacity to change
from being autotrophic to heterotrophic.

ii) Phytoplankton are used as a source of food for many aquatic

microorganisms as well as fish and other water animals.

iii) Phytoplankton produce a large amount of oxygen during photosynthesis

which used by all aquatic organisms for respiration.

 Disadvantages of euglena:

i)Euglena blooms can be harmful to fish due to the production of toxins.

ii)They can be source of pollution in water bodies.
 Economic Importance of Kingdom Protoctista
79
1. Trypanosoma causes sleeping sickness in man which is
transmitted by a vector called Tsetse fly.
2. Plasmodium causes malaria in man and it is transmitted
by a female anopheles mosquito.
3. Entamoeba histolytica is another important human
parasite which causes amoebic dysentery.
4. Entamoeba gingivalis cause a dental disease called a
periodontal disease, which is transmitted by kissing.
5. Algae are cultivated as human and fish food.
6. Zooplanktons and other marines‟ organisms rely on
algae for food which are primary producers.