EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -Plant-like protists also referred to as algae can make their own food. They are a diverse and huge group. Plant-like protists will thus use autotrophic mode of nutrition. They will perform the process of photosynthesis to generate food (sugars) by utilization of carbon dioxide, water, and light energy from the sun.

Detailed explanation-2: -Phototrophs are organisms that use light as their source of energy to produce ATP and carry out various cellular processes. Not all phototrophs are photosynthetic but they all constitute a food source for heterotrophic organisms.

Detailed explanation-3: -role in pelagic food chain. 5-to 10-micrometre phototrophs (bacteria and protists). Moreover, heterotrophic protists (phagotrophic protists) are now viewed as the dominant controllers of both bacteria and primary production in the sea.

Detailed explanation-4: -Protists that are photoautotrophs are able to use light energy from the sun to undergo photosynthesis and make their own food, which makes them plant-like. Examples include kelp and algae.

Detailed explanation-5: -Plant-like protists are mainly autotrophs which are capable of making their own food through photosynthesis, but some are both autotrophic and heterotrophic like the Euglena. Their cells contain chloroplasts that contain a green pigment, chlorophyll, to absorb sunlight.