The kingdom Protista encompasses a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms, including protozoa, algae, and slime molds. These organisms exhibit various forms, lifestyles, and nutritional strategies, blurring traditional taxonomic boundaries.
Protists play vital roles in ecosystems as primary producers, decomposers, and as part of food chains. Some cause diseases in humans and other organisms.
Unlike more defined kingdoms, Protista represents a heterogeneous assemblage, highlighting the complexity of early eukaryotic evolution.
