Topic 5.3: Classification of biodiversity Flashcards
What is the formal system by which all living species are classified nowadays?
Binomial system
How has the binomial system been developed?
It is periodically assessed and updated at a series of international congresses
How is an organisms named in the binomial system?
a) Genus is written first and is capitalized (e.g., Homo)
b) Species follows in lower case (e.g., sapiens)
Benefits of the binomial system for classification of biodiversity
a) It allows all organisms to be named according to a globally recognized scheme
b) It can show how closely related organisms are
c) It makes it easier to collect, sort and group information about organisms
What is the relationship between the number of taxa shared between two organisms and their relation?
More taxa shared = More closely related organisms
What are the three domains in which all living organisms are classified?
a) Eukaryota (all eukaryotic organisms)
b) Archaea (prokaryotic extremophiles)
c) Eubacteria (common pathogenic bacteria)
What is the order of classification for taxonomy?
Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species
Classification of a human from domain to species level
Eukaryota Animalia Chordata Mammalia Primate Hominidae Homo sapiens
Classification of a buttercup from domain to species level
Eukaryota Plantae Angiosperm Eudicotidae Ranunculales Ranunculacae Ranunculus acris
Definition of natural classification
Grouping organisms according to common ancestry rather than by common features
Advantages of natural classification (2)
a) Identification of species is easier
b) Prediction of characteristics shared within a group
Disadvantage of natural classification
Taxonomists may need to reclassify groups if new phylogenetic evidence emerges
Definition of Dichotomous Keys
Identification method whereby groups of organisms are divided into two categories repeatedly
What is preferable when using dichotomous key to identify specimens?
Immutable features
a) Physical structures
b) Biological processes
Plant phyla
a) Bryophyta
b) Filicinophyta
c) Coniferophyta
d) Angiospermophyta
Bryophyta
a) Structures
b) Vascularization
c) Reproduction
d) Additional features
e) Example
a) No ‘true’ leaves, roots or stems
b) None
c) Spores
b) Anchored by rhizoids
e) Mosses / Liverworts
Filicinophyta
a) Structures
b) Vascularization
c) Reproduction
d) Additional features
e) Example
a) Leaves, roots, and stems present
b) Present
c) Spores
d) Pinnate leaves
e) Ferns
Coniferophyta
a) Structures
b) Vascularization
c) Reproduction
d) Additional features
e) Example
a) Have leaves, roots, and stems
b) Present
c) Seeds (in cones)
d) Woody stems
e) Pines
Angiospermophyta
a) Structures
b) Vascularization
c) Reproduction
d) Additional features
e) Example
a) Have leaves, roots, and stems
b) Present
c) Seeds (in fruits)
d) Flowers / Fruits
e) Peach tree
Animal phyla
a) Porifera
b) Cnidaria
c) Platyhelmintha
d) Annelida
e) Mollusca
f) Arthropoda
g) Chordata
Porifera
a) Symmetry
b) Body cavity
c) Segmentation
d) Other features
e) Examples
a) Asymmetrical
b) None
c) None
d) Spicules for support
e) Sea sponge
Cnidaria
a) Symmetry
b) Body cavity
c) Segmentation
d) Other features
e) Examples
a) Radial
b) Mouth but no anus
c) None
d) Stinging cells
e) Jellyfish, coral
Platyhelmintha
a) Symmetry
b) Body cavity
c) Segmentation
d) Other features
e) Examples
a) Bilateral
b) Mouth but no anus
c) None
d) Flattened body
e) Tapeworm, planaria
Annelida
a) Symmetry
b) Body cavity
c) Segmentation
d) Other features
e) Examples
a) Bilateral
b) Mouth and anus
c) Segmented
d) Move via peristalsis
e) Earthworm, leech
Mollusca
a) Symmetry
b) Body cavity
c) Segmentation
d) Other features
e) Examples
a) Bilateral
b) Mouth and anus
c) Non-visible
d) May have a shell
e) Snail, octopus, squid
Arthropoda
a) Symmetry
b) Body cavity
c) Segmentation
d) Other features
e) Examples
a) Bilateral
b) Mouth and anus
c) Segmented
d) Exoskeleton
e) Insects, spider, crustaceans
Chordata
a) Symmetry
b) Body cavity
c) Segmentation
d) Other features
e) Examples
a) Bilateral
b) Mouth and anus
c) Segmented
d) Dorsal hollow nerve cord
e) Mammals, birds, reptiles, fish
Vertebrate organisms
a) Fish
b) Amphibian
c) Reptile
d) Bird
e) Mammal
Fish
a) Body covering
b) Reproduction
c) Breathing
d) Temperature
e) Other features
a) Scales made out of body plates
b) External
c) Gills
d) Ectothermic
e) Have a swim bladder
Amphibian
a) Body covering
b) Reproduction
c) Breathing
d) Temperature
e) Other features
a) Moist skin
b) External
c) Simple lungs
d) Ectothermic
e) Larval state in H2O, adult state on land
Reptile
a) Body covering
b) Reproduction
c) Breathing
d) Temperature
e) Other features
a) Scales made out of keratin
b) Internal (soft egg)
c) Lungs with extensive folding
d) Ectothermic
e) Simple teeth with no living tissue
Bird
a) Body covering
b) Reproduction
c) Breathing
d) Temperature
e) Other features
a) Feathers
b) Internal (hard egg)
c) Lungs with bronchial folding
d) Endothermic
e) Have wings and beaks, no teeth
Mammal
a) Body covering
b) Reproduction
c) Breathing
d) Temperature
e) Other features
a) Hair
b) Internal (Live birth)
c) Lungs with alveoli
d) Endothermic
e) Feed young with milk from gland