Question

The Kingdom Protista forms a link with which of the following kingdoms?
a. Plantae
b. Fungi
c. Animalia
d. All of the above

Answer 1

Hint: Kingdom Protista includes simple eukaryotic organisms that are usually composed of a single cell or colonies of similar cells. They either live in aquatic or terrestrial habitats and as parasites and symbionts in the bodies of multicellular eukaryotes.

Complete answer:
> Option (A) is correct. Kingdom Plantae consists of multicellular eukaryotic organisms that are autotrophs i.e., making their food by the process of photosynthesis. Members of Kingdom Protista are also eukaryotes and some of them are also autotrophs i.e., phytoplanktons.

> Option (B) is correct. Kingdom Fungi also consists of eukaryotic organisms i.e., yeasts, molds, mushrooms and they are heterotrophic. Certain fungi form a symbiotic association with algae which is called lichen to obtain food from the algal component. Members of Kingdom Protista are also eukaryotes and they are also heterotrophic such as zooplanktons.

> Option (C) is correct. Members of Kingdom Animalia include multicellular, heterotrophic eukaryotes. It is the largest kingdom and depends on plants and other animals to obtain its food. Also, members of kingdom Animalia are capable of locomotion. Kingdom Protista also includes heterotrophic unicellular organisms that are also capable of locomotion.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: Kingdom Protista was proposed by Ernst Haeckel in 1866 as ‘the kingdom of primitive forms’. This kingdom forms a link between the kingdom Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia. This kingdom consists of both photosynthetic, floating protists, and also free-floating, holozoic protozoans called zooplanktons. Kingdom Protista includes Euglena, Paramecium, Amoeba, Plasmodium, etc.