Classification and Biodiversity

Question 1

What are the 5 kingdoms?

Answer 1

1. Prokaryotae
2. Protoctista
3. Fungi
4. Plantae
5. Animalia

Question 2

What is an autotroph?

Answer 2

An organism that can make food from inorganic substances

Question 3

What is a Heteroph?

Answer 3

Organisms that use organic food sources

Question 4

What are the 3 Domains?

Answer 4

1. Archaea
2. Bacteria
3. Eukarya

Question 5

Define Classification

Answer 5

The organisation of living organisms into groups according to their shared similarities and differences

Question 6

Define Taxonomy

Answer 6

The study of the principles behind classification

Question 7

Why do we study?

Answer 7

To make the study of living organisms more manageable, to support ideas of evolution, to allow scientists to communicate with each other.

Question 8

What is the Phylogenetic Hierachy?

Answer 8

The modern classification system

Question 9

What is a Hierachy?

Answer 9

Where a large group of items (in this case organisms) is split into smaller and smaller groups.

Question 10

What is meant by Phylogenetic?

Answer 10

The organisms are grouped to reflect their evolutionary relatedness.

Question 11

What is the 7 taxa groups in order (largest to smallest)?

Answer 11

1. Kingdom
2. Phylum
3. Class
4. Order
5. Family
6. Genus
7. Species

Question 12

Define Species

Answer 12

A group of organisms that can interbreed under natural conditions to produce natural offsrping

Question 13

What is the latin naming system and how does it work?

Answer 13

Binomials, made of Genus-species.

Question 14

Why are virus’ not included in the 5 kingdom classification system?

Answer 14

They do not carry out life processes on their own

Question 15

What do taxonomists use to group organisms?

Answer 15

Similarities and Differences

Question 16

Define Morphology

Answer 16

The structure of organisms (outward appearance and internal structure)

Question 17

Define Biochemical methods

Answer 17

Molecules within organisms; DNA and protein sequences, rRNA structure, cell wall biochemistry etc.

Question 18

Define Homologous structures

Answer 18

Body parts that are structurally similar even though they are used for different functions

Question 19

Define Analagous structures

Answer 19

Body parts that are structurally different but used for similar functions

Question 20

What are biochemical methods used for?

Answer 20

Comparing certain molecules across different species to see how similar or different their structures are.

Question 21

What are 4 causes of decreasing biodiversity?

Answer 21

1. Habitat destruction
2. Over fishing
3. Misuse of land
4. Pollution

Question 22

What is Simpson’s index equation?

Answer 22

1 - [Σn(n-1)/ N(N-1) ]

Question 23

What does low levels of biodiversity suggest?

Answer 23

1. Dominance by few/ one species
2. A change in one species can effect a whole habitat
3. Unstable habitat