Chapter 5: The Diversity Of Life Flashcards
Biodiversity
The great variety of life
Classfication
The system of grouping organisms together that share common characteristics is called classification
Organisms are classified into five groups
- Animals
- Plants
- Protists
- Fungi
- Bacteria
Stimuli
All of the changes in an organisms environment are called stimuli.
Animals can be divided into two groups
Invertebrates
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
Are animals that do not have a backbone. For example, insects, snails, crabs and starfish.
Vertebrates
Are animals that do have a backbone. For example, humans, crocodiles, fish and birds
Protists
Protists were the first organisms to evolve a nucleus. The majority protists live in water
Fungi
They do not contain chlorophyll and so cannot produce their own food. Fungi are decomposers.
Decomposers
Decomposers feed on dead plant and animal material
Microorganisms
Are very small living things. They cannot be seen by the naked eye and must be viewed using microscopes.
Bacteria
Are the most common organisms on Earth
Binary fission
Bacteria reproduce by a process called binary fission
The importance of bacteria
They take carbon dioxide from the air, which helps reduce climate change
The majority of bacteria are decomposers
The negative effects of bacteria
Food spoilage
Livestock and crop diseases
Human diseases
