Classification of biodiversity

Essential idea: Species are

named and classified using
an internationally agreed
system.

The Swedish botanist Carolus Linnaeus originally invented

the binomial system to help him consistently name plants
he identified. The system was eventually adopted by other
scientists and remains to the accepted naming system for
species. Though species may have many common names to
avoid confusion scientists always use the
scientific/binomial name.
Understandings
Statement Guidance
5.3.U1 The binomial system of names for species is universal
among biologists and has been agreed and developed
at a series of congresses.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific
names using the binomial system.
5.3.U3 Taxonomists classify species using a hierarchy of taxa.
5.3.U4 All organisms are classified into three domains. Archaea, eubacteria and eukaryote should be
used for the three domains. Members of these
domains should be referred to as archaeans,
bacteria and eukaryotes. Viruses are not classified
as living organisms.
5.3.U5 The principal taxa for classifying eukaryotes are
kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus and
species.
5.3.U6 In a natural classification, the genus and accompanying
higher taxa consist of all the species that have evolved
from one common ancestral species.
5.3.U7 Taxonomists sometimes reclassify groups of species
when new evidence shows that a previous taxon
contains species that have evolved from different
ancestral species.
5.3.U8 Natural classifications help in identification of species
and allow the prediction of characteristics shared by
species within a group.
Applications and Skills
Statement Guidance
5.3.A1 Classification of one plant and one animal species
from domain to species level.
5.3.A2 Recognition features of bryophyta, filicinophyta, Students should know which plant phyla have
coniferophyta and angiospermophyta. vascular tissue, but other internal details are
not required.
5.3.A3 Recognition features of porifera, cnidaria, Recognition features expected for the
platylhelmintha, annelida, mollusca, arthropoda selected animal phyla are those that are most
and chordata. useful in distinguishing the groups from each
other and full descriptions of the
characteristics of each phylum are not
needed.
5.3.A4 Recognition of features of birds, mammals,
amphibians, reptiles and fish.
5.3.S1 Construction of dichotomous keys for use in
identifying specimens.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U1 The binomial system of names for species is universal among biologists and has been
agreed and developed at a series of congresses.

The 21st International

Congress of Zoology (ICZ)
http://iszscon2012.haifa.ac.il/

• Carl Linnaeus originally published Systema Natura in 1758 in which he gave binomials for
all species known at that time.
• The IBC of Vienna in 1905 voted to accept his naming convention.
• Since then both the IBC and ICZ have been the bodies that oversee the international
efforts to maintain consistent naming conventions and use of taxon.
• Periodically the congresses meet to discuss issues affecting classification.

http://www.tokresource.org/tok_classes/biobiobio/biomenu/classification/index.htm
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U2 When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
5.3.U7 Taxonomists sometimes reclassify groups of species when new evidence shows that a
previous taxon contains species that have evolved from different ancestral species.

Historically classification systems

have been revised repeatedly
based on emerging evidence.
Previously in the second half of the 20th century
all living organisms were classified into five
kingdoms. This included prokaryotes being placed
in one kingdom and eukaryotes were split-up into
the remaining four kingdoms.

Recent evidence from genetic

studies of ribosomal RNA has
shown that "prokaryotes" are far
more diverse than anyone had
suspected.

ribosomal RNA is found in all

organisms and evolves slowly so is
a good way to track evolution over
long time periods.
Recent work

http://academic.pgcc.edu/~kroberts/Lecture/Chapter%204/04-23_WhittakerTax_L.jpg
5.3.U4 All organisms are classified into three domains.

Revision of the classification system lead

to a new level of taxon called domains.

The Prokaryotae are now divided

into two domains, the Bacteria and
the Archaea

Bacteria and the Archaea are as

different from each other as either is
from the Eukaryota, the third domain.

No one of these groups is ancestral to the

others, and each shares certain features with
the others as well as having unique
characteristics of its own.

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/alllife/threedomains.html
5.3.U4 All organisms are classified into three domains.

Features and examples of each domain:

Archaea Bacteria (Eubacteria) Eukaryota

Examples are often, but always,
extremophiles:
• Sulfolobus sp. grow in volcanic
springs with optimal growth
occurring at pH 2-3 and
temperatures of 75-80 °C
• Halobacterium sp. (lives in water
with high salt concentrations)
• Staphylococcus aureus (above) Includes several kingdoms
can cause skin infections and including fungi, animals and plants.
respiratory disease Examples range from algae to
• Cyanobacteria sp. Are Humans.
photosynthetic
• Rhizobium sp. live symbiotically
with plants and fix nitrogen

• No nuclear membrane • No nuclear membrane • Nuclear membrane

• RNA and biochemistry distinct
from bacteria

n.b. viruses are not classified as living organisms in the same way that eukaryotes, archaeans, and
bacteria are. They are however of considerable biological importance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three-domain_system
5.3.U3 Taxonomists classify species using a hierarchy of taxa.
5.3.U5 The principal taxa for classifying eukaryotes are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family,
genus and species.

Not all domains use the same taxa – the

example above is for Eukaryotes
5.3.U5 The principal taxa for classifying eukaryotes are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family,
genus and species.
5.3.U5 The principal taxa for classifying eukaryotes are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family,
genus and species.
5.3.A1 Classification of one plant and one animal species from domain to species level.

Learn a mnemonic, one animal example and one plant example:

Domain Does Eukaryota Eukaryota
Kingdom Kennard Animalia Plantae
Phylum Play Chordata Spermatophyta
Class Classical Mammalia Eudicotyledons
Order Or Primates Magnoliidae
Family Folk Hominidae Ranunculales
Genus Guitar Homo Ranunculus
Species Songs? Sapiens Acris
Human

up
Meadow Butterc
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Masai_Woman.jpg http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Ranunculus_macro.jpg
5.3.A2 Recognition features of bryophyta, filicinophyta, coniferophyta and angiospermophyta.

e.g.
e.g. e.g. e.g.
5.3.A2 Recognition features of bryophyta, filicinophyta, coniferophyta and angiospermophyta.

Leaves, roots and stems Vascular Reproductive structures

tissue
Bryophytes • No roots, but structures similar to None Spores produced in
(mosses, hornworts root hairs called rhizoids capsules, which develop
and liverworts) • Mosses have simple leaves and at the end of a stalk
stems
• Liverworts have a flattened thallus

Filicinophytes • Roots present Yes Spores produced in

(ferns) • Short non-woody stems. sporangia on the
• Leaves usually divided into pairs of underside of the leaves
leaflets

Coniferophytes • Roots, present Yes Seeds develop from

(conifer shrubs and • Woody stems ovules in female cones.
trees) • Leaves usually narrow with a thick Male cones produce
waxy cuticle pollen.

Angiospermophytes • Leaves and roots variable in Yes Seeds develop from

(flowering plants) structure ovules in ovaries, inside
• Stems maybe woody (shrubs and flowers. Seeds are
trees) dispersed by fruits which
develop from the
ovaries.
5.3.A4 Recognition of features of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish.

The most familiar animal

from the chordata phyla
belong the to subphylum
vertebrata. Can you
match the different
classes with the images?

Birds Amphibians
(aves) (amphibia)

Mammals Reptiles
(mammalia) (reptilia)

Fish (Agnatha,
Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes)
n.b. Fish is not a true class it
is actually a grouping of
three similar classes.

http://commons.wikimedia.org/
5.3.A4 Recognition of features of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish.

The most familiar animal

from the chordata phyla
belong the to subphylum
vertebrata. Can you
Mammals match the different Amphibians
(mammalia) (amphibia)
classes with the images?

Reptiles
(reptilia)
Fish (Agnatha,
Chondrichthyes, Osteichthyes)

n.b. Fish is not a true class it

is actually a grouping of
Birds three similar classes.
(aves) http://commons.wikimedia.org/
5.3.A4 Recognition of features of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish.

A summary of key features that can be used to distinguish between

the vertebrate classes
Limbs Gas Exchange Reproduction Other features
Mammals 4 Pentadactyl Lungs with • Internal fertilization • Hairs growing from the skin
limbs alveoli • Give birth to live young • Teeth including living tissue
• Mammary glands secrete
milk
birds 4 Pentadactyl Lungs with • Internal fertilization • Feathers growing from skin
limbs, 2 limbs parabronchial • Hard shells around the • Beak but no teeth
modified as tubes eggs
wings

reptiles 4 Pentadactyl Lungs with • Internal fertilization • Dry scaly impermeable skin
limbs extensive • Soft shells around eggs • Simple teeth – no living
folding tissue
amphibians 4 Pentadactyl Simple lungs • External fertilization in • Soft moist permeable skin
limbs with small water
internal folds • Protective jelly around
and moist eggs
surfaces • Larval stage lives in water
fish Fins Gills • External fertilization in • Scales grow from the skin
most species • with a single gill slit
• Swim bladder for buoyancy
5.3.A3 Recognition features of porifera, cnidaria, platylhelmintha, annelida, mollusca, arthropoda
and chordata.

What about other phyla? Can

you match the names with the
images?

cnidaria platylhelmintha

annelida mollusca porifera

chordata arthropoda

http://commons.wikimedia.org/
5.3.A3 Recognition features of porifera, cnidaria, platylhelmintha, annelida, mollusca, arthropoda
and chordata.

Can you match the phyla with

the images?

cnidaria
mollusca

platylhelmintha
chordata porifera
annelida

arthropoda
http://commons.wikimedia.org/
5.3.S1 Construction of dichotomous keys for use in identifying specimens.
5.3.S1 Construction of dichotomous keys for use in identifying specimens.
5.3.U6 In a natural classification, the genus and accompanying higher taxa consist of all the
species that have evolved from one common ancestral species.

Natural classification groups together species that share a common ancestor from
which they evolved. This is called the Darwinian principle of common descent

It is expected that members of a group share important attributes or

'homologous’ traits that are inherited from common ancestors. For
example Lions share more traits with Jaguars than with Clouded
Leopards.

Grouping together birds, bats and bees because they

fly would be an artificial classification as they do not
share a common ancestor. and evolved the ability to
fly independently.
Plants and fungi were once classified together
because they both possessed shared characteristics
such as cell walls. It is now known that this is an
artificial grouping as their cell walls have a different
molecular biology and they evolved separately.
Natural classification is not straightforward as
convergent evolution can make distantly related
organisms appear similar and adaptive radiation can
make similar organisms appear very different from each
other.