Classifications Flashcards
the terminology
Variety of organisms that live on Earth
Biodiversity
Grouping organisms together on the basis of shared characteristics
Classification
Classification of organisms according to similarities and differences
Taxonomy
The branch of biology that deals with classification and nomenclature
Systematics
A method of classification of animals and plants that aims to identify and take account of only those shared characteristics which can be deduced to have originated in the common ancestor of a group of species during evolution, not those arising by convergence.
Cladistics
A system of names and terms used in a particular field of study or community
Nomenclature
The system of nomenclature in which two terms are used to denote a species of living organism, the first one indicating the genus and the second the specific epithet.
Binomial nomenclature
Arranged in order of rank.
Hierarchical
A taxonomic group of any rank, such as a species, family, or class.
Taxon/ Taxa
A group of organisms believed to comprise all the evolutionary descendants of a common ancestor.
Clade
The highest classification into which living organisms are grouped in Linnean taxonomy
Kingdom
A principal taxonomic category that ranks above class and below kingdom, equivalent to the division in botany.
Phylum
Refers to a rank equivalent to phylum
Division
Taxonomic category ranking used in biological classification that is below a family and above a species level, and includes group(s) of species that are structurally similar or phylogenetically related
Genus
A group of organisms that can reproduce with one another in nature and produce fertile offspring.
Species
A taxon in the highest rank of organisms,
Domain
Unicellular organisms that consist of a single prokaryotic cell
Prokaryote
An organism whose cells contain a nucleus within a membrane.
Eukaryote
An organism that cannot manufacture its own food by carbon fixation and therefore derives its intake of nutrition from other sources of organic carbon, mainly plant or animal matter.
Heterotrophic
An organism capable of synthesizing its own food from inorganic substances, using light or chemical energy.
Autotrophic
Any organism that lives and feeds on dead organic matter
Saprotrophic
An organism that consists of only one cell
Unicellular
Organisms that consist of more than one cell
Multicellular
The ability to move actively and on instinct, usually consuming energy in the process.
Motility
Any characteristic which is derived by evolution from a common ancestor.
Homologous traits
A similarity of function and superficial resemblance of structures that have different origins
Analogous traits
A construction using contrasting characteristics to divide the organisms in the key into smaller and smaller groups; each time a choice is made, a number of organisms are eliminated.
Dichotomous key
A diagram that represents evolutionary relationships among organisms.
Phylogenetic tree
The part of the plant stem where the flowers, branches, and leaves first start to grow.
Node
An individual which is a direct ancestor of both individuals
Common ancestor
A branching diagram showing the cladistic relationship between a number of species.
Cladogram
