Topic 5.

3
Classification of
Biodiversity
What are those??
Binomial Nomenclature
O Universal system for naming organisms
O Developed by Carolus Linneaus 1707-1778

O 2 names system (Genus & species)

O Written in Latin (dead language)

O Earliest published names for species

O Plants 1753
O Animals 1758
 Rules for Binomial
Nomenclature
O The Genus name begins with an upper case
(capital) letter and the species name with a lower
case (small) letter

O In typed or printed text it is shown in italics

O Homo sapiens

O After it has been used once in a text, it can be

abbreviated to the initial letter of the genus name
and the full species name
O H. sapiens
 Natural Classification
O The genus and accompanying
higher taxa consist of all the
species that have evolved
from one common ancestral
species.
O Will share many
characteristics
 Reviewing classification
O Taxonomists sometimes reclassify groups of
species when new evidence shows that a
previous taxon contains species that have
evolved from different ancestral species
 Advantages of Natural
Classification
O 1. Identification of species is easier
O Identify domain, then kingdom…..etc

O 2. Because all of the members of a group in a

natural classification have evolved from a
common ancestor, they inherit similar
characteristics
 Hierarchy of Taxa
O Seven ranks of classification (from broadest to
most specific)

O Domain Dumb
O Kingdom Kings
O Phylum Play
O Class Chess
O Order On
O Family Fine
O Genus Grain
O Species Sand
 The three domains
O Eubacteria (prokaryotes)
O Archaea (prokaryotes)
O Eukarya (eukaryotes)
 Domain
Feature
Bacteria Archaea Eukaryota
Histones
Proteins similar to Present
associated with Absent
histones
DNA

Presence of Present in some

Rare or absent Frequent
introns genes

Structure of cell Not made of Not made of

Peptidoglycan
walls peptidoglycan peptidoglycan
Organis
Corn Orca Human Grey Wolf
m
Eukarya
Domain Eukarya Eukarya Eukarya

Plantae
Kingdom Animalia Animalia Animalia

Chordata
Phylum Megnaliophyta Chordata Chordata

Mammalia
Class Lilopsida Mammalia Mammalia

Cetacea
Order Poales Primates Carnivora

Delphinidae
Family Poaceae Hominidae Canidae

Orcinus
Genus Zea Homo Canis

Species mays orca sapiens lupus

 Kingdoms
O Plantae, Anamalia, fungi, protista are the main 4
that are accepted eukaryotic kingdoms
O Archaebacteria and Eubacteria are the other two
recognized kingdoms.

O Those kingdoms are broken down into

O 35 animal phyla
O 12 plant phyla
O 7 fungi
 Plant Phyla
Phyla Features Example
Bryophyta • Lack vascular tissue (xylem/phloem) Mosses
• Must live near water and close to
ground
• No roots: root like structure called
rhizoids
• Reproduce by spores
Filicinophyta • Possess vascular tissue Ferns
• Reproduce by spores on underside of
leaves
• Possess roots
• Curled divided leaflets
Coniferophyta • Possess vascular tissue Pine trees
• Trees or shrubs
• Possess roots
• Narrow leaves (pine needles)
• Possess cones with pollen
 Plant phyla cont.
Phyla Features Example
Angiospermophyta • Possess vascular tissue Rose
• Possess roots, stems &
leaves Sunflower
• Produce flowers
• Possess ovaries where
ovules are located
• Fertilized ovules form
seeds encased in fruit
 Animal Phyla
Phyla Features Example
Porifera • Asymmetrical Sponges
• Body consists of pores
• Attached to a surface
• No anus or mouth
Cnidaria • Radial symmetry Jellyfish
• Possess stinging tentacles
Platyhelminthes • Bilateral symmetry Tapeworm
• Flat, unsegmented bodies Planarian
• No anus but has a mouth
Annelid • Bilateral symmetry Earthworm
• Segmented, round bodies leech
• No anus but has a mouth
 Animal phyla cont.
Phyla Feature Example
Mollusca • Bilateral symmetry Snail
• Posses a foot and a mantle Clam
• Unsegmented Octopus
• Some possess shells
• Possess anus and a mouth
Arthropoda • Bilateral symmetry Insects
• Segmented, jointed Spiders
appendages Crustaceans
• Possess hard exoskeleton
• Has anus and mouth
Chordata • Bilateral symmetry Birds
• Segmentation Mammals
• Notochord (central nerve cord) Amphibians
• Possess anus and a mouth Reptiles
fish
 Animal Classes
O Currently there are 108 widely accepted
animal classes.
O You will be responsible for 5 classes of the
chordata phyla
O Birds, Mammals, amphibians, reptiles and
fish.
 Characteristics of Animal classes
Animal class Distinguishing characteristics
Birds • Warm blooded
• Posses hollow bones
• Feathers
• Egg layers (hard shell)
Mammals • Warm blooded
• Live birth
• Posses hair or fur
• Most live on land (not all)
• Mammary glands (nurse young)
• Breather with lungs
Amphibians • Cold blooded
• Eggs laid in water
• Posses moist, tough skin
• Live on land (adult) water (young/larvae)
• Breath with gills (water, lungs (land)
Characteristics of Animal Classes Cont.

Animal class Distinguishing characeristics

Reptiles • Cold blooded
• Egg layers (leathery shell)
• Live on land only
• Possess dry, scaly skin
Fish • Cold blooded
• Possess scales and gills (for breathing)
• Lay slimy eggs
• Live in water (possess fins and tails for
swimming)
 Dichotomous Keys
O Used to identify organisms based on structures
and features
O Each level includes two statements that refer
to the same feature
O One will be true and one will be false
O The key will either identify the organism or
prompt you to move on for further questioning
Sample Dichotomous Key