DIVERSITY OF

ORGANISMS
KINGDOMS

MONERA
PROTISTA
FUNGI
PLANTAE
ANIMALIA

DIVERSITY OF ORGANISMS

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 1. PROTOZOA

A. STRUCTURE: They are unicellular organisms with a true nucleus

(Eukaryotes). They don’t have a cell wall. Most protozoa can move about,
i.e. they are motile. Some of them move by means of flagella, while others
move by means of cilia e.g. Paramecium. Amoeba is another protozoon
which moves by means of pseudo-pods.

B. NUTRITON: Protozoa are heterotrophs. Some suck fluids into a channel

formed by the moving in of the cell membrane of the cell membrane. The
process is known as Pinocytosis. Others like Paramecium swallow
particulate food through a special structure called “gullet”. Amoeba
surrounds and engulfs food through a process called Phagocytosis.

Protozoa are found in a variety of habitats, e.g. fresh and marine water.
Some are parasitic in other organisms, including man. Protozoa are also
found in the soil and in aerial habitats like trees.

C. REPRODUCTION: Protozoa usually reproduce asexually by binary

fission i.e. simple cell division. Some like Paramecium however reproduce
by conjugation which is a simple form of sexual reproduction.

ROLE OF PROTOZOA IN MALARIA

As stated above, some protozoa are parasitic, and some cause diseases. One such
protozoon is Plasmodium which causes malaria. The vector of Plasmodium is the female
Anopheles mosquito.
If the mosquito carrying the parasite bites a healthy person, it injects the parasites into
their blood. The parasites grow and reproduce by binary fission in the liver cells.
From the liver cells, the daughter plasmodia enter the circulatory system where they
attack the red blood cells. Once inside the red blood cells the parasites reproduce rapidly
and finally cause the cells to burst. By this time the patient will be having fully blown
malaria.
The symptoms of malaria include: fatigue/tiredness, headache, vomiting, fever (which is
at its highest when red blood cells burst to release the parasites), violent shivering
accompanied by increased breathing and pulse rate. This is followed by profuse sweating.
These symptoms come in stages:

1. COLD STAGE: Characterized by violent shivering and chattering of teeth. The

stage lasts for one to two hours.
2. HOT STAGE: The patient feels hot with body temperature reaching 40 oC. There
is also rapid breathing, increased pulse rate and headache. This lasts for three to
four hours.
3. SWEATING STAGE: The patient sweat profusely for a period of two to four
hours. Body temperature falls to below normal body temp. and the patient gets a
feeling of relief.

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 CONTROLLING MALARIA

Malaria can be controlled by destroying the parasite (plasmodium) or destroying the

vector (mosquito).

a) CONTROL OF VECTOR

KEY: A = Pupa, B = Larva, C = Eggs, D = Adult

i. Spray with insecticides to kill the mosquitoes

ii. Draining pools of stagnant water to prevent mosquitoes from
breeding.
iii. Spraying the surface of stagnant, unwanted water with oil to
reduce surface tension of water. This will make the larvae to
sink below the water surface where it will suffocate.
iv. Man can use nets over beds, fly screens on doors and
windows to prevent mosquitoes from reaching them.
v. Scented chemicals or repellents may be used to keep away
mosquitoes.
vi. Biological control, e.g. using predators like “mosquito fish”
to eat the larvae and pupae.

b) CONTROL OF PARASITE

i. Using drugs to kill the parasite in the liver and red blood cells, e.g.
chloroquine.
ii. Preventing infection with drugs e.g. mepacrine, so that the parasites are
killed immediately they enter the body.

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2. BACTERIA

A. STRUCTURE: Bacteria are very small single cellular organisms. Although

they have a cell wall, it is not made of cellulose, but of a complex mixture of
proteins, sugars and lipids. Some have a protective slimy capsule on the cell
wall. Bacteria do not have a true nucleus (Prokaryotes) and their DNA just
float in the cytoplasm covered by no membrane. Some bacteria have flagella
that they use to propel themselves and move about.
Bacteria may be spherical, rod-shaped or spherical.

B. NUTRITION: Most bacteria are heterotrophic, but a few are autotrophic.

Those that are heterotrophic can be divided into Saprophytes and Parasites.

The Saprophytes release enzymes onto the food (mostly they live on the food) to
digest them externally. The bacteria then absorb the liquid products. The
Parasites live and rely on different plant and animal species for food, shelter and
survival in general.

C. REPRODUCTION: Bacteria reproduce asexually by binary fission. A few

species are known to reproduce through simple sexual method of
conjugation.

3. VIRUSES

A. STRUCTURE: Viruses are the smallest and simplest of all organisms. They
don’t have a true nucleus or even cytoplasm, and cannot therefore be called
cells. These creatures are made of a wall of proteins known as a capsid. The
capsid is made of blocks known as capsomeres. Inside the protein wall is a
coiled strand of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA). Viruses have different
shapes. They are rod-shaped, spherical or complex.

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 B. NUTRITION: Viruses don’t feed.

C. REPRODUCTION: These organisms can only reproduce within the host’s

cells. To multiply, a virus attaches to a host’s cell and injects its strand of
nucleic acid into the cell. Once inside the cell, the strand multiplies. Protein
walls then form around each strand to form new viruses. With the host’s cell
full of viruses, it will burst open to release them. The viruses will then invade
other cells.

4. FUNGI

A. STRUCTURE: Fungi are mostly multicellular organisms with a true nucleus

(Eukaryotes). Examples of fungi include: mushrooms, toadstools, moulds (e.g.
mucor and Penicillium) and yeast which is single cellular.

Most of the multicellular fungi are not made of individual cells, but of microscopic
threads (or tubes) called hyphae. The hyphae usually branch many times on the food
or soil to form a network called the mycelium. The hyphae have cell wall made of
either cellulose or chitin or both (Chitin is similar to cellulose except that it contains
nitrogen atoms). The inside of the hyphal wall is lined with cytoplasm that contains
organelles. There are however no chloroplasts and starch grains. There is a large
vacuole at the center of the hyphae. In most species there are no cross walls (septa) to
divide hyphae into cells. In those species that have cross walls, they are perforated to
allow cytoplasm to flow through. The compartments formed by such walls may have
one, two or more nuclei.

B. NUTRITION: Fungi are heterotrophs. Some feed saprophitically while others are
parasites in plants and animals. Parasitic fungi often cause diseases.

C. REPRODUCTION: Fungi reproduce asexually by means of spores. During

growth of hyphae, some branches grow upwards. The tips of these “aerial
hyphae” swell into small knobs known as sporangia (one = sporangium). The
sporangia produce spores. After maturity, the sporangia burst open to release the

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 spores. They are then carried away by wind or animals. If the spores land on
suitable surface, a new organism develops.

5. GREEN ALGAE:

A. STRUCTURE: Green algae are non-fruit bearing plants. They therefore have are
true nucleus (Eukaryotes) and chloroplasts. Some are unicellular e.g. Chlorella
while others are multicellular. Some green algae are colonial e.g. Volvox while
others are filamentous e.g. Spirogyra. Volvox also has flagella, and therefore is
motile.

The colonial appear like multicellular organisms, but there is no cell

specialization, as all the cells are similar in structure. Individual cells in a colony
are enclosed in gelatin, but are not connected to each other by strands of
cytoplasm. They therefore operate as individuals and not a unit.

A filament of Spirogyra is only one cell thick, and each cell is a transparent
cylinder. The filaments are surrounded by a slime layer that prevent them from
getting tangled up. The chloroplast is ribbon like, and spirals though each cell.
The nucleus is suspended at the center of the cell by strands of cytoplasm, and is
surrounded by vacuoles.

B. NUTRITION: Green algae synthesise their own food (Autotrophs) since they
have chloroplasts.

C. REPRODUCTION: Nearly all green algae reproduce sexually by means of

gametes. There are however some few exceptions which reproduce asexually.

6. VERTEBRATES

 They are called so because they have a vertebral column (back bone)
which runs along the dorsal surface. In some it extends to form a tail.
 They have an internal framework made mostly of bones called an
endoskeleton.
 All vertebrates’ skeletons comprise of a skull, ribcage and a vertebral
column.
 Their limbs are variously adapted to swimming, walking and flying.

1. BIRDS

A. STUCTURE: They are covered with feathers which make flying possible
and help to retain body heat. The feathers are constantly oiled from a
sebaceous gland at the base of the bird’s tail to prevent them from getting
water logged. They have a light skeleton with light bones to ease flight.
They have two pairs of limbs, whereby the fore limbs are wings used for

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 flight in most birds. The hind limbs are feet which are clawed and covered
with scales. Birds are warm blooded vertebrates.

B. NUTRITION: Birds are heterotrophic. Different birds have beaks of

different shapes and sizes, depending on the type of the food they eat.
Some beaks are adapted for cracking nuts, others for tearing meat and
some for picking seeds.

C. REPRODUCTION: They reproduce sexually. Birds lay eggs protected by

a hard shell. The eggs hatch into young ones. Birds care for their young.

2. AMPHIBIANS

A. STRUCTURE: They have a thin, soft and moist skin that quickly looses
moisture in dry conditions. Amphibians therefore live in moist
environments. The skin is used for gaseous exchange by amphibians. They
however also use some simple lungs for breathing. They have four limbs
with webbed feet. They are cold blooded.

B. NUTRITION: Amphibians are heterotrophic. Frogs, toads and newts are

carnivorous since the feed on insects, and other small animals.

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 C. REPRODUCTION: They reproduce sexually. Eggs and sperms are
released into water where fertilization occurs. This fertilization in
amphibians is external.

3. REPTILES

A. STRUCTURE: They have a thick, dry and rough skin. The skin is covered
with overlapping scales. The skin is impenetrable to water, thus preventing
reptile bodies from drying. Reptiles have four limbs adapted for moving
on land, except snakes which don’t have limps. Reptiles are cold blooded
vertebrates.

B. NUTRITION: They are heterotrophic, but have different feeding methods.

Some are carnivorous, e.g. lizards and snakes, while others are
herbivorous, e.g. turtles.

C. REPRODUCTION: Reproduction is sexual and fertilization is internal.

They lay leathery shelled eggs which do not dry easily. The eggs are in
most cases incubated by covering them with sand.

4. FISH

A. STRUCTURE: Their bodies are covered with scales. They have gills
which they use for breathing, and these are covered with a bony flap. They
have fins which they use for swimming and their bodies are streamlined to
ease movement in water.
Some fish have skeletons made of bones (bony fish) e.g. hake, cod and
haddock. These have a swim bladder which is an air filled sac that helps
the fish to control it depth. Others have skeletons made of cartilage

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 (cartilaginous fish), e.g. shark. These only use their fins to control their
depth.

B. NUTRITION: They feed heterotrophically.

C. REPRODUCTION: They reproduce sexually, but fertilization is external

like in amphibians.

5. MAMMALS

A. STRUCTURE: Most have hair covering their bodies and this help to
conserve heat. Most of them are terrestrial and use all four limbs for
walking. Some use two limbs for walking e.g. man. Some mammals live in
water e.g. whales while others can fly e.g. bats. Mammals are worm
blooded vertebrates.

B. NUTRITION: They are heterotrophs. Some are herbivorous e.g. goat,

some are carnivorous e.g. lion while others are omnivorous e.g. man. There
teeth arrangement and shapes are made to suit the different eating habits.

C. REPRODUCTION: They reproduce sexually. Some lay eggs, e.g. the

duck-billed platypus. Others have their embryo growing in a pouch, e.g.
kangaroo, while others have their young developing in the mother’s womb

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 e.g. man. Mammals care for their young ones, and they feed them on milk
produced in the mammary glands.

7. ATHROPODS

 They all have jointed legs

 They have segmented bodies
 Their bodies have a hard exoskeleton made of chitin.

1. INSECTS

A. STRUCTURE: They have three pairs of jointed legs and a pair of antennae.
Their bodies are divided into three parts, the head, thorax and abdomen. They
have a pair of complex compound eyes. Most insects have a pair of wings
attached to the abdomen and can fly.

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 B. NUTRITION: They are heterotrophs. They however have different ways of
feeding. Some have strong jaws for killing the small animals they feed on, or
for cutting plant parts e.g. termites. These are called mandibles. Some insects
have a long tube used for sucking liquids e.g. butterflies. This is called a
proboscis.

C. REPRODUCTION: It is sexual, and fertilization is internal. Most insects go

through metamorphosis (several stages of change from eggs to adulthood)

KEY: 1 = Adult, 2 = Egg, 3 = Larva, 4 = Pupa.

1. CRUSTACEANS

A. STRUCTURE: They have a hard exoskeleton which is hardened with calcium

salts. Many have ten or more legs and two pairs of antennae. Crustaceans have
a fused head and thorax (forming cephalothorax) and an abdomen. Most of
them are aquatic, e.g. lobsters, but some are terrestrial e.g. crab.

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 Diagram of a shrimp.

B. NUTRITION: Crustaceans are heterotrophic. Some have claws that they use
for obtaining food while others have mandibles with which they crush, tear
and chew food.

C. REPRODUCTION: They reproduce sexually.

2. ARACHNIDS

A. STRUCTURE: Body made of cephalothorax and abdomen. They have eight

jointed legs, all attached to the cephalothorax. Arachnids have no antennae,
but have a pair of modified limps that function as mouth parts. Examples are
spiders and ticks.

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 B. NUTRITION: They are heterotrophs. Since they don’t have jaws to cut and
chew food, they release enzymes and digest outside. The digested food is then
absorbed into the oesophagus. Some like ticks suck blood from live animals.

C. REPRODUCTION: They reproduce sexually.

3. MYRIAPODS

A. STRUCTURE: They have many segments and many legs. Millipedes have
two pairs of limbs per segment whereas centipedes have one pair per segment.

B. NUTRITION: They are heterotrophs. Some are carnivorous (e.g. centipedes)

and have poisonous fangs for catching prey. Others are herbivorous (e.g.
millipedes) which eat decaying plant material.

C. REPRODUCTION: They reproduce sexually.

7. ANGIOSPERMS

These are flowering plants, which mean they bear flowers. Their seeds develop within
a fruit and they are covered.

A. STRUCTURE: They are eukaryotic, multicellular organisms with cellulose in

their cell wall. Their cells have a large central vacuole. They have chlorophyll
and other photosynthetic pigments located in the chloroplast. Angiosperms
have roots, stems, leaves and flowers. They have vascular bundles made of
xylem and phloem tissues. These are responsible for transportation of
materials in the plant. Angiosperms are divided into monocotyledons and
dicotyledons.

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 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MONOCOTS AND DICOTS.

MONOCOTYLEDONS DICOTYLEDONS
Leaves are narrow with straight, parallel veins Leaves are broad with network
venation
Flowing parts arranged in 3 or multiples of 3 Flowering parts arranged in 4s o5s or
their multiples.
Fibrous root system Tap root system
No petiole connecting leaf to stem, leaf Petiole connects leaf to stem
connected by a sheath.
Vascular bundles are scattered in the stem Vascular bundles arranged in a ring in
the stem
One cotyledon in the seed Two cotyledons in the seed

B. NUTRITION: All angiosperms are Autotrophs. They contain chlorophyll in

the chloroplasts for trapping light energy needed for photosynthesis. Carbon
dioxide from the atmosphere and water from the soil are taken to the
chloroplasts where they are broken down to produce glucose and oxygen.

C. REPRODUCTION: Both sexual and asexual reproductions are possible.

 Asexual reproduction is by vegetative propagation where roots,

stems and occasionally leaves are used to give rise to new plants. It
does not involve fusion of gametes and the genetic makeup of the
parent and the offspring are the same. For example, some ornamental
plants can be grown using stem cuttings. Grafting and budding are
other ways of vegetative propagation.
 Sexual reproduction: the flower is the sexual reproductive structure.
The pollen grain contains the male gamete while the ovule contains the
female gamete. During fertilization, the two gametes which are
haploid fuse to form a diploid zygote.

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