Classification of Biodiversity (5.3) Flashcards
The hierarchy of taxa
DomainKingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenusSpecies
The Three Domain system
Shows the fundamentally different cell types of archaeans (prokaryote), bacteria (prokaryotes) and eukaryotes.
Archaeans/Bacteria
- Prokaryotic cells with no membrane bound organelles (eg. no nucleus). Archaea are found in extreme environments like hot springs, Antarctic ice and extremely acidic/alkaline waters.
Eukaryotes
Complex cells with membrane bound organelles.
Classification of Humans (Application)
Domain: Eukarya. Kingdom: Animalia. Phylum: Chordata. Class: Mammalia. Order: Primate. Family: Hominidae. Genus: Homo. Species: sapiens.
Classification of Buttercups (Application)
Domain: EukaryaKingdom: PlantaePhylum: AngiospermophytaClass: EudicotidaeOrder: RanunculalesFamily: RanunculaceaeGenus: RanunculusSpecies: acris
The Four Eukaryotic Kingdoms
ProtoctistaFungiPlantaeAnimalia
The Four Eukaryotic Kingdoms (Protoctista)
Unicellular (some multicellular). May be auto or heterotrophic. Live in water (marine/aquatic environments).Examples of Protoctista: euglena, paramecium, amoeba.
The Four Eukaryotic Kingdoms (Plantae)
Multicellular and autotrophic (possess chlorophyll so also photosynthetic). Their cell walls are made of cellulose. Examples of Plantae: Mosses, ferns and angiosperms (flowering plants).
The Four Eukaryotic Kingdoms (Animalia)
Multicellular and heterotrophic. Often motile (capable of motion).
The Four Eukaryotic Kingdoms (Fungi)
Filamentous or unicellular. Heterotrophic (with extracellular digestion). Their cell walls are made of chitin. Examples of Fungi: Yeast and mushrooms.
Prokaryotes
Unicellular and lack distinct nuclei and membrane bound organelles. Their DNA is mainly circular (plasmids) eg. bacteria, cyanobacteria
Why are Viruses not classified as living organisms?
Viruses are not made of living cells and lack the properties of living organisms eg. they do not reproduce independently, they must replicate by invading living cells.
Kingdom: Plantae
Plantae are eukaryotic, multicellular and autotrophs (photosynthetic). Their cell walls are made of cellulose and food is stored as starch.
Phylum: Bryophyta
Examples of Bryophyta: Mosses and liverworts. Bryophyta live in moist, terrestrial environments. They are non-vascular (do not possess transport tissues of xylem or phloem). They have no ‘true’ roots, stems or leaves and reproduce via spores (no seeds or flowers).