Species and taxonomy Flashcards
What is classification?
Grouping of organisms
What is taxonomy?
Theory and practice of biological classification.
What are the two types of classifications?
Phylogenetic classification and Artificial classification
Explain phylogenetic classification and the method it uses.
Classifies species into groups based on their evolutionary origins and relationships. It uses a hierarchy in which smaller groups are placed within larger groups, with no overlap between groups. Each group is called a taxon (plural taxa).
Explain artificial classification.
Classifies species according to differences that are useful at the time. These are described as analogous characteristics.
What are analogous characteristics and which classification do they come under?
Characteristics with the same function but not the same evolutionary origins. Come under artificial
What are the characteristics like in phylogenetic classification + definition.
Characteristics are partly homologous which is when they have similar evolutionary origins regardless of their function.
What is the binomial system?
A universal system for naming organisms
How are the organisms given a name through the binomial system?
Genus: First name
Species: Second name
What are 2 advantages of using the binomial system?
- It is universal so everyone will use the same system.
- It allows us to see how closely related organisms are.
By looking at the name, how can you tell that two organisms share a common ancestor?
Same genus (first name)
What is a hierarchy in terms of classification systems? Explain your answer.
Smaller groups arranged within larger groups.
- Within a larger group you can have lots of the smaller group. This is the same as you travel up a hierarchy.
There are no overlap between groups.
- Although there may be many different species in the same genus, there is no overlap in those species. e.g a tiger is a completely different species from a jaguar so they wouldn’t produce offspring.
What are all the taxa in the classification system?
Domain
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
(Dear) King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup.
Why do we classify organisms into the classification system?
- To understand the relationships between organisms.
How can members of the same species recognise one another during mating?
Through courtship behaviour.
What is a species?
Group of similar organisms that can breed together and produce offspring.
What is courtship behaviour?
Sequence of actions unique to each species that allow animals to identify their own species and reproduce with them.
Why is courtship important?
- Enables them to recognise their own species and the opposite sex
- Synchronises mating behaviour since it indicates they are sexually mature
- Choose a strong and healthy mate
- To form a pair bond between two individuals
Below are 3 different species of duck. Explain which two ducks are closely related to each other and why.
Duck 1: shakes tail - shakes beak - nods and swims - turns to female
Duck 2: shakes tail - shakes beak - flicks head - turns to female
Duck 3: - shakes tail - whistles - grunts - raises head and tail - turns to female
Duck 1 and Duck 2 are closely related because their courtship sequence is very similar. Courtship rituals are genetically determined, so the more similar a species is, the more similar their DNA base sequence is.
What are three ways of determining genetic comparisons between species?
- Difference in DNA base sequence
- Difference in amino acid sequence of proteins
- Difference in base sequence of mRNA
How can breeding experiments determine whether two
populations are from the same species.
By breeding the same two populations together, the same species will produce fertile offspring.
