Classification and Biodiversity Flashcards
What are the 5 kingdoms?
- Prokaryotae
- Protoctista
- Fungi
- Plantae
- Animalia
What is an autotroph?
An organism that can make food from inorganic substances
What is a Heteroph?
Organisms that use organic food sources
What are the 3 Domains?
- Archaea
- Bacteria
- Eukarya
Define Classification
The organisation of living organisms into groups according to their shared similarities and differences
Define Taxonomy
The study of the principles behind classification
Why do we study?
To make the study of living organisms more manageable, to support ideas of evolution, to allow scientists to communicate with each other.
What is the Phylogenetic Hierachy?
The modern classification system
What is a Hierachy?
Where a large group of items (in this case organisms) is split into smaller and smaller groups.
What is meant by Phylogenetic?
The organisms are grouped to reflect their evolutionary relatedness.
What is the 7 taxa groups in order (largest to smallest)?
- Kingdom
- Phylum
- Class
- Order
- Family
- Genus
- Species
Define Species
A group of organisms that can interbreed under natural conditions to produce natural offsrping
What is the latin naming system and how does it work?
Binomials, made of Genus-species.
Why are virus’ not included in the 5 kingdom classification system?
They do not carry out life processes on their own
What do taxonomists use to group organisms?
Similarities and Differences
Define Morphology
The structure of organisms (outward appearance and internal structure)
Define Biochemical methods
Molecules within organisms; DNA and protein sequences, rRNA structure, cell wall biochemistry etc.
Define Homologous structures
Body parts that are structurally similar even though they are used for different functions
Define Analagous structures
Body parts that are structurally different but used for similar functions
What are biochemical methods used for?
Comparing certain molecules across different species to see how similar or different their structures are.
What are 4 causes of decreasing biodiversity?
- Habitat destruction
- Over fishing
- Misuse of land
- Pollution
What is Simpson’s index equation?
1 - [Σn(n-1)/ N(N-1) ]
What does low levels of biodiversity suggest?
- Dominance by few/ one species
- A change in one species can effect a whole habitat
- Unstable habitat
