Fungi and fungus-like protists are similar in the sense that they are both heterophic decomposers. However, unlike fungi, fungus-like protists do not have cell wall made of chitin (a carbohydrate) but have centrioles to aid cell duplication.

The individual cells of cellular slime molds do not ever fused together throughout their life cycle. However, acellular slime molds fused together during their life time. Unlike them, individual cells of water mold have diploid life cycle.

Slime molds have the ability to recycle organic matters in the environment. They do this by breaking down organic substances, such as fruits and leaves and eating the microorganisms.

Water molds (Oomycete) are extremely pathogenic, meaning they can destroy and cause many diseases in plants. For example, it can cause potato blight in potato plants. Some species can cause diseases in fish.

See explanation.

A slug-like mass of cellular slime molds is similar to the plasmodium of acellular slime molds due to the fact that both form an asexual reproductive structure that is similar in structure. They are different because cellular slime molds feed as independent amoebocyte cells while the acellular slime molds feed as large multinucleate giant cells.