[Ecology] ----- [Review of Classification]
Classification

Classification involves arranging living organisms into groups based on similarities in structure, embryology, and DNA.

 

What is the Value of Classifying Organisms?

1. Aiding the identification of species When confronted with an unidentified species, scientists look at classification keys which give hints to help provide a name for it.
2. Shows evolutionary links Species in the same group usually share characteristics since they have descended from a common ancestor. Classification can be used to predict how they evolved.
3. Predicting characteristics shared by similar species If several species in a group share a characteristic, another species in the group will probably share that characteristic.

Species: A species is a group of organisms with similar characteristics, which can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. Their DNA will also be very similar.

Binomial System of Nomenclature: All identified species are given an international name, so scientists around the world can refer to it. The naming system that scientists use to name species is known as the binomial system since 2 names are used to refer to each species.

Examples:

Genus
Species
Common Name
Canis
lupus
Timber Wolf
Canis
domesticus
Domestic Dog
Canis
vulpes
Red Fox

 

Genus
Species
Common Name
Homo
sapiens
Modern Humans
Homo
erectus
Java Man
Homo
neanderthalensis
Neanderthal Man
Kingdoms of Life

All life is classified into one of 5 kingdoms:

Kingdom
Examples
Characteristics
Prokaryotae
Bacteria/ Blue-green Algae
 Prokaryote cells: unicellular, no nucleus, no organelles
Protoctista
Protists/ Algae
 Eukaryote cells: unicellular & simple multicellular, nucleus, organelles,
Fungi
Mold/ Yeast/ Mushrooms
 Eukaryote: uni- to multicellular, heterotrophs, mostly saprotrophs
Plantae
Higher Plants
 Eukaryote: multicellular, autotrophs, cellulose cell walls
Animalia
Animals
 Eukaryote: multicellular, heterotrophs, lack cell walls

Seven Levels of Hierarchy of Taxa:
Hierarchy of Taxa
Example #1
Example #2
Species
 Sciurus carolinensis (E. Gray Squirrel) Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)
Genus
 Sciurus Pinus
Family
 Sciuridae (Squirrel) Pinaceae
Order
 Rodentia Pinales
Class
 Mammalia Pinopsida
Phylum
 Vertebrata Coniferophyta
Kingdom
 Animalia Plantae

[Examples of Simple Plant Phyla & Their Characteristics]

[Examples of Simple Animal Phyla & Their Characteristics]

[Review of Classification]
Slichter