BONUS CLASSIFICATION

Question 1

What is classification?

Answer 1

Classification is the arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities. Classification is also known as taxonomy.

Question 2

Why is classification necessary?

Answer 2

It accurately and uniformly names organisms.

It prevents misnomers such as starfish, jellyfish or seahorse. Starfish and jellyfish are invertebrates.

It uses one language (Latin or some Greek) therefore preventing confusion.

Question 3

Who was the first taxonomist?

Answer 3

Aristotle was the first taxonomist. He divided organisms into plants and animals. He then subdivided them based on their habitat - land, sea or air dwellers.

Question 4

Who was the first to use Latin for naming?

Answer 4

John Ray, a botanist

Question 5

Who invented the classification system that is used today?

Answer 5

Carl Linnaeus - 18th C taxonomist and he.classified organisms by their structure.

He developed the naming system which is the modern system of naming known as binomial nomenclature which is used toady. Bi means 2 and nominal means name so two-word name (Genus and Species). He is called the father of taxonomy.

Question 6

How is Binomial Nomenclature recorded?

Answer 6

Either Latin or Greek
Italicized in print
Capitalize genus but not species
Underline when writing

Question 7

Why are there rules for naming organisms?

Answer 7

prevents duplicated names

Question 8

How do taxonomists identify and classify organisms?

Answer 8

Based on external and internal structures and where an organism lives. Taxonomists consider genetic makeup (DNA sequences) to reveal evolutionary relationships.

Question 9

What are structural similarities?

Answer 9

physical features that species have in common, example bobcats and lynxes.
breeding behaviour, example male frogs in the same pond make different sounds to attract females of their own group.
geographical distribution, example finches of Galapagos Islands
Chromosome similarities

Question 10

How are living organisms divided? What does genus mean? What is the smallest taxon? What is a taxon?

Answer 10

into groups called taxa (singular, taxon)
group of similar related species
smallest taxon is species
A taxon is a category into which related organisms are placed.

Question 11

Why are viruses not included in the five kingdoms?

Answer 11

Viruses are not included in the five kingdom classification because viruses make up a group of organisms without any cellular structure. Viruses can only reproduce inside other living cells.

Question 12

What features categorizes an organism in the Kingdom Plantae?

Answer 12

1. Multicellular organisms.
2. Cells have cell walls made of cellulose.
3. Cells contain chlorophyll.
4. Make their own food by photosynthesis.
5. Stationary organisms.

Question 13

What features categorizes an organism in the Kingdom Animalia?

Answer 13

1. Multicellular organisms.
2. Cells lack cell walls and chlorophyll.
3. Feed by ingesting food.
4. Most move their whole bodies from place to place.

Question 14

What features categorizes an organism in the Kingdom Protoctista?

Answer 14

1. Multicellular that lack complex development of tissues and organs but most are unicellular.
2. Cells have a true nucleus surrounded by a membrane and other membrane bound organelles.
3. Ingest or absorb food (protozoans).
4. Contain chlorophyll and make their own food by photosynthesis (algae).

Question 15

What features categorizes an organisms in the Kingdom Fungi?

Answer 15

1. Most multicellular with body composed of microscopic threads called hyphae and few are unicellular.
2. Cells have cell walls that contain chitin.
3. Cells lack chlorophyll.
4. Most reproduce by spores.
5. Feed by absorbing food.

Question 16

What are the aims of studying any ecosystem?

Answer 16

1. To identify the different species of plants and animals present. To find out where they live. To determine their numbers. To find out the relationships they have with each other and with the abiotic factors.