Biodiversity and Classification Flashcards

Taxonomy and Classification

• Taxonomy is the study of describing, naming, and classifying organisms.
• It utilizes various levels of classification including domains, kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
• A taxon refers to any taxonomic group, such as a class or family.

Key Terms and Concepts

• A species is a taxonomic unit where organisms can mate and produce fertile offspring.
• Binomial nomenclature, introduced by Linnaeus, assigns a two-part scientific name consisting of a generic name and a specific name.
• Dichotomous keys are tools for identifying organisms through a series of binary questions.

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity measures biological diversity per unit area encompassing species, habitat, and genetic diversity.
• Five kingdoms exist in taxonomy: Animalia, Plantae, Fungi, Protista, and Monera (which includes Bacteria and Archaea).

Cellular Classification

• Eukaryotes have membrane-bound organelles and a distinct nucleus, while prokaryotes lack a true nucleus.
• Archaea are biochemically and genetically distinct prokaryotic organisms.
• Bacteria represent the prokaryotic organisms classified under the Woese system.

Biological Kingdoms

• Fungi consist of non-green eukaryotic organisms that reproduce through spores and absorb nutrients.
• Animalia encompasses multi-cellular, heterotrophic organisms with mobile structures and sensory organs.
• Plantae represents multicellular, photosynthetic autotrophs with cellulose cell walls.
• Protista includes mostly unicellular eukaryotic organisms that differ from other kingdoms.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

• The hierarchy starts from domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya) and progresses to kingdoms, phyla, classes, orders, families, genera, and species.
• The family level includes related genera, while the order includes related families.
• Genus is the taxonomic group of related species.

Identification and Classification

• An organism's generic name is the first part of its scientific name, identifying its genus.
• The specific name, the second part of the scientific name, further defines the species, like "sapiens" in Homo sapiens.
• Taxonomists are the biologists specializing in the classification and naming of organisms, providing structure to biological diversity.