5.
3 Classification of biodiversity - student
NATURE OF SCIENCE:
COOPERATION AND COLLABORATION BETWEEN GROUPS OF SCIENTISTS— SCIENTISTS USE THE BINOMIAL SYSTEM TO IDENTIFY A SPECIES
RATHER THAN THE M ANY DIFFERENT LOCAL NAMES .
Understandings:
∑ - THE BINOMIAL SYSTEM OF NAMES FOR SPECIES IS UNIVERSAL AMONG BIOLOGISTS AND HAS BEEN AGREED AND DEVELOPED AT A
SERIES OF CONGRESSES .
Originally developed by Swedish naturalist
Currently, many scientists and specialists meet in a series of International Congresses of Zoology
which meet in different cities every
They meet to discuss their findings regarding genetics, animal behaviour and classification
A main topic is the and decisions regarding the classification of
new organisms or the reclassification of old ones because of new evidence regarding ancestry.
The main objectives with regards to using the binomial nomenclature system developed are to
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Make sure each organism has a unique name that cannot be confused with another
organism
The name can be universally understood regardless of the nationality or culture that is
using the name
Stability exists within the system by not allowing people to change the name without
valid scientific reasons
∑ - W HEN SPECIES ARE DISCOVERED THEY ARE GIVEN SCIENTIFIC NAMES USING THE BINOMIAL SYSTEM.
Genus and is Genus species
species is
if in type, if hand written
o The binomial system allows for scientists across cultures, regions and languages to
communicate effectively with regards to specific organisms.
∑ - TAXONOMISTS CLASSIFY SPECIES USING A HIERARCHY OF TAXA.
.
Scientists arrange or organize species in to a hierarchical set of groups in order to organize organisms into
specific similar groups based on similar characteristics
As one goes higher up on a classification chart, the greater the number of
∑ - A LL ORGANISMS ARE CLASSIFIED INTO THREE DOMAINS .
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The Archaea and Bacteria _______________________________ . These are organisms
that do not have a membrane bound nucleus and their DNA is not associated with proteins.
The Bacteria domain consists of _______________________________
The Eukarya domain includes eukaryotes, or organisms that have a membrane bound nucleus. This
domain is further subdivided into the kingdoms _______________________________
Groups organisms primarily based on differences in _______________________________ Ribosomal
RNA is a molecular building block for ribosomes.
nucleus Organelle peptidoglyca RNA pol Introns Histones Circular Chrom
s n
Bacteria
Archea
Eukarya
∑ - THE PRINCIPAL TAXA FOR CLASSIFYING EUKARYOTES ARE KINGDOM, PHYLUM , CLASS, ORDER, FAMILY , GENUS AND SPECIES .
Domain
Kingdom
Cell Type
Cell Structures
# of Cells
Nutrition
Examples
Other
∑ - IN A NATURAL CLASSIFICATION, THE GENUS AND ACCOMPANYING HIGHER TAXA CONSIST OF ALL THE SPECIES THAT HAVE EVOLVED
FROM ONE COMMON ANCESTRAL SPECIES .
For natural classification, it is assumed that all members of that group _______________________________
at some point in their history. This can be seen in their structure. Unnatural or artificial classification for
example would be birds and flies. They both can fly; however flight evolved separately, and they are classified
separately
Β - A PPLICATION : C LASSIFICATION OF ONE PLANT AND ONE ANIMAL SPECIES FROM DOMAIN TO SPECIES LEVEL .
Research one plant and one animal example and fill out the table below.
Hierarchical level ACRONYM PLANT Example: ANIMAL Example:
Most Kingdom
diverse
Most
Specif species
c
∑ - Taxonomists sometimes reclassify groups of species when new evidence shows that a previous
taxon contains species that have evolved from different ancestral species.
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Sometimes new evidence is found that shows scientists that members of a particular group do not
share a common ancestor as once originally thought
Sometimes other species that were once thought to be a lot different, are found to be more similar;
sharing a common ancestor
This switching of classification is an ongoing process as new discoveries or better methods of
classification are found.
Putting apes together with humans in Hominidae was one of these cases
Orangutan as seen in this classification chart on the left are now in a sub family of Pongidae. All apes used to
belong to the family Pongidae
∑ - NATURAL CLASSIFICATIONS HELP IN IDENTIFICATION OF SPECIES AND ALLOW THE PREDICTION OF CHARACTERISTICS SHARED BY
SPECIES WITHIN A GROUP .
_______________________________is very useful for research into biodiversity
Easier identification for new species that do not obviously fit into a specific classification (Kingdom à
Phylum à Class à etc.)
A _______________________________could be used to put an organism into a classification that fits
that organism the best
This would not work as well _______________________________ (eg. Colour of flower petals)
Since organism evolved from a common ancestor, new species would share similar characteristics
(likely internal), allowing for easier identification and classification. For example the pentadactyl limb, or
mammary glands in mammals
A PPLICATIONS AND SKILLS:
Β - A PPLICATION : R ECOGNITION FEATURES OF BRYOPHYTA , FILICINOPHYTA , CONIFEROPHYTA AND ANGIOSPERMOPHYTA .
Plant Phyla
Bryophyta
Filicinophyta
Coniferophyta
Angiospermophyta
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Β - APPLICATION: R ECOGNITION FEATURES OF PORIFERA , CNIDARIA, PLATYLHELMINTHA , ANNELIDA, MOLLUSCA, ARTHROPODA AND
CHORDATA .
Animal Phyla
Porifera
Cnidaria
Platyhelminthes
Annelida
Mollusca
Arthropoda
Chordata
**Please note that Chordata has a sub-phylum called vertebrata (have a vertebral column) **
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Β - APPLICATION: R ECOGNITION OF FEATURES OF BIRDS , MAMMALS , AMPHIBIANS , REPTILES AND FISH .
Mammals Amphibians Reptiles Fish
Birds (aves)
(Mammalia) (Amphibia) (Reptilia) (Osteichthyes)
Skin covered in Skin has follicles with Moist skin, Scales made
Impermeable skin
feathers made out of hair made out of permeable to water out of bony plates in
covered in scales of
Keratin Keratin the
keratin
skin
Lungs ventilated using Lungs with alveoli, Simple lungs and Lungs with Gills covered by an
air sacs, with para- ventilated with ribs moist skin for gas extensive folding operculum
bronchial tubes and a diaphragm exchange (increase SA)
Pentadactyl Limbs No limbs
Two wings and two Four legs for many, Adults have four legs Four legs in most Fins
legs some have two species (some have
arms/wings and two none)
legs
Internal fertilisation Internal fertilisation External fertilisation Internal fertilisation External fertilisation
(sperm and egg) (sperm and egg) with sperm and eggs (sperm and egg) with sperm and eggs
Females lay eggs with Most have live birth Larval stage in water, Females lays eggs Remain in
hard shells and feed young with adult usually on land with soft shells water throughout
milk from mammary their lives
glands
Beak and no teeth Different types of Eggs coated in Same type of teeth Swim bladder for
teeth, living core protective jelly with no living parts buoyancy
Maintain constant internal temperature (warm Do not maintain an internal body
blooded) temperature (cold blooded)
Β - SKILL: CONSTRUCTION OF DICHOTOMOUS KEYS FOR USE IN IDENTIFYING SPECIMENS.
A dichotomous key is a key constructed from a series of statements arranged into pairs.
The two descriptions should represent separate choices or characteristics that determine the difference
between two organisms.
Both choices are read and compared with the organism to be identified.
If the first characteristic is present in the organism to be identified follow the instructions at the end of
the statement. If the characteristic is not present go to the second statement as this should be true.
Once a choice is made, that selection directs you to another pair of descriptive statements.
One statement might identify the organism or lead you further on in the key.
This process is repeated until a successful identification is obtained.
Example for the Kingdom Animalia (using some of the characteristics from the above table)
1. Symmetry
Has bilateral symmetry go to 2
Has radial symmetry go to 3
2. Digestive
Has mouth and anus go to 4
Has only one opening for mouth and anus go to 5
3. Exoskeleton
Secretes hard exoskeleton made from CaCO3 Stony corals
Soft exoskeleton go to 6
4. Body structure
Has segmented body go to 7
No segmentation with mantle Octopus
5. Mouth
Has suckers and hooks for attachment Tapeworm
No suckers or hooks Planaria
6. Locomotion
Move on surface beneath it by an adhesive foot Sea Anemone
Move by propulsion of water Jellyfish
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7. Exoskeleton
Hard exoskeleton with jointed appendages Scorpion
Soft outer skeleton with bristles Earthworm
