What does phagotrophic mean in biology?

Definition. A process of ingesting relatively large particles of food that carries out via intracellular digestion.

Are protists phagotrophic?

Phagotrophic protists include flagellates in the nanoplankton (2–20 μm in size) that prey on bacteria and smaller-sized phytoplankton, and ciliates and phagotrophic dinoflagellates in the microzooplankton (20–200 μm in size) that consume a wide size range of other protists, up to large diatom cells and chains.

What is phagotrophic mode of nutrition?

Phagotrophic nutrition includes digestion inside the cells. In phagotrophic mode of nutrition, the large particles of food are engulfed by the cell by forming a surrounding membrane all around the food particles and gradually taking it inside the cell. Now, inside the cell, the engulfed food particles get digested.

Are fungi Phagotrophic?

Complete answer: All types of fungi typically derive their nutrition from the other organisms which are living or dead. Thus, we can say that they are heterotrophs. A phagotrophs is an organism which feeds by feasting organisms or organic constituents in macro amounts, which are digested within its body.

What do you mean by Protista?

Definition of protist : any of a diverse taxonomic group and especially a kingdom (Protista synonym Protoctista) of eukaryotic organisms that are unicellular and sometimes colonial or less often multicellular and that typically include the protozoans, most algae, and often some fungi (such as slime molds)

What is the role of Encystment as can occur with some protists?

Encystment, the formation of the cyst, also helps the microbe to disperse easily, from one host to another or to a more favorable environment. When the encysted microbe reaches an environment favorable to its growth and survival, the cyst wall breaks down by a process known as excystation.

When was Dikaryon formed?

A dikaryon is a pair of linked but unfused haploid nuclei of a fungus cell capable of participating until their final fusion as independent individuals in repeated cell division. A dikaryon is formed when two haploid cells do not spontaneously fuse. Karyogamy is delayed in higher fungi and occurs only prior to meiosis.

What is the difference between Protista and protozoa?

The taxonomic kingdom Protista is a collection of single-celled organisms that do not fit into any other category. Protists are a group made up of protozoa, unicellular algae, and slime molds. Protozoa are the oldest known group of heterotrophic life that consume and transform complex food particles into energy.