autotroph = an organism that can make its own food

bacteria = a prokaryoticmicroorganism

cilia = small hair-like projections used for movement and to obtain food by ciliate protozoans

colony = a group of individual organisms living together

decomposer = organisms that eat decaying materials and help to return necessary elements to the environment

eukaryotic = a cell with a nucleus

flagella = tiny whiplike structures used in movement and feeding in flagellate protozoans (flagellum is the singular form)

heterotroph = an organism that feeds on other organisms

host = the organism on which a parasite lives

malaria = a disease spread when healthy misquitoes bite people and transfer the protist Plasmodium into the person; the disease is characterized by high fevers that alternate with severe chills

microorganism = an organism that cannot be seen without the use of a microscope

multicellular = composed of more than one cell

parasites = an organism that lives in or on another organism; may be harmful, helpful, or indifferent to host

prokaryotic = a cell without a nucleus

protozoans = animal-like members of the kingdom Protista

pseudopod = "false foot"; a structure used by amebas and slime molds for movement

spore = tiny cell that can grow into an organism

unicellular = composed of only one cell