The Science of Taxonomy and Systematics

Question 1

the science of describing, naming, and classifying organisms

Answer 1

taxonomy

Question 2

discover, discern, describe, name, classify, study, compare, and identify living and extinct species and other taxa.

Answer 2

taxonomists

Question 3

“the study of nature and origin of the natural populations of living organisms, both present and past.” (Myers, 1952)

Answer 3

systematics

Question 4

The production of cladograms that link taxa through their observed variation” (Wheeler, 2005)

Answer 4

systematics

Question 5

study the big picture. The diversity of living organisms on Earth is the result of billions of years of evolution.

Answer 5

biosystematics

Question 6

Seek to ensure that the classification of organisms, into genera, families, and higher categories, is founded on evolutionary relationships.

Answer 6

biosystematics

Question 7

Taxonomy and Systematics as a Useful Science

Answer 7

• Feeding the World
• Discovering the Drugs of the Future
• Improving Human Health
• Enabling Industrial Innovation

Question 8

Taxonomy and Systematics Support the other Fields of Sciences

Answer 8

• Ecology
• Genetics
• Geology
• Earth Science
• Oceanography
• Climate Science
• Agricultural Science
• Environmental Science
• Conservation Science

Question 9

differentiate taxonomy and systematics

Answer 9

taxonomy:
- Refers to the classification of organisms
- A branch of systematics
- Involved in the classification and naming of organisms
- Does not deal with the evolutionary history of organisms
- Can change with further studies
systematics:
- Refers to the study and classification of organisms for the determination of the evolutionary relationship of organisms
- Studies the relationship between organisms
- Involved in the classification, naming, cladistics, and phylogenetics
- Deals with the evolutionary history of organisms
- Does not change with further studies