AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -There are three main groups of photosynthetic protists. They are the euglenophytes, the chrysophytes and the pyrrophytes. The euglenophytes include euglenoids such as Euglena. The chrysophytes include diatoms and golden algae.

Detailed explanation-2: -Algae are called living organisms. They possess chlorophyll that helps in photosynthesis. They are considered plant-like protists. They are simple organisms that lack complex plant organs such as roots, stems, and leaves.

Detailed explanation-3: -Plants, algae, and a group of bacteria called cyanobacteria are the only organisms capable of performing photosynthesis. Because they use light to manufacture their own food, they are called photoautotrophs (“self-feeders using light”).

Detailed explanation-4: -Most life on Earth depends on photosynthesis. The process is carried out by plants, algae, and some types of bacteria, which capture energy from sunlight to produce oxygen (O2) and chemical energy stored in glucose (a sugar).

Detailed explanation-5: -Protist cells Photosynthetic protists such as the various types of algae contain plastids. These organelles serve as the site of photosynthesis (the process of harvesting sunlight to produce nutrients in the form of carbohydrates). The plastids of some protists are similar to those of plants.