Biodiversity and Five Kingdom System

Biodiversity

• Biodiversity is the variety of life forms, genes, and ecosystems.
• Biodiversity exists on three levels: species diversity, genetic diversity, and ecological diversity.
• Species diversity encompasses all species of life on Earth, from microbes to multicellular organisms.
• Genetic diversity refers to the genetic variation within a species. This variation can exist among populations of the same species, or within a single population.
• Ecological diversity refers to the variety of ecosystems and their association with the physical environment.

Five Kingdom System

• Living organisms are classified into five kingdoms: Prokaryotae, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
• This classification system is primarily based on the organization level of the organisms and their methods of nutrition (autotrophic or heterotrophic).

Kingdom Prokaryotae

• Includes viruses and bacteria.
• Viruses are not cellular and only reproduce inside living cells.
• Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotic organisms that lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles.
• Bacteria can be spherical (cocci), rod-shaped (bacilli), or spiral-shaped (spirilla).
• They can reproduce asexually through binary fission.
• Under unfavourable conditions, some bacteria produce endospores. Endospores have great resistance to harsh environments.

Kingdom Protoctista

• Eukaryotic unicellular or multicellular organisms.
• Comprises algae and protozoa.
• Algae exhibit various structural forms and habitats and utilize photosynthesis to produce their energy.
• Protozoa are unicellular eukaryotes with a wide range of feeding mechanisms. Their habitats vary and many are free-living. Some contain contractile vacuoles involved in expelling excess water

Kingdom Fungi

• Eukaryotic organisms, lack chlorophyll
• Obtain nutrients by either absorbing organic matter from decaying matter (saprophytes), from living organisms (parasites), or by symbiotic interaction with other organisms (mutualists)
• Usually multicellular
• Have rigid cell walls composed of chitin

Kingdom Plantae

• Multicellular eukaryotic organisms.
• Composed of cells with cell walls made of cellulose.
• Obtain nutrients through photosynthesis.
• Divided into various phyla, including Bryophyta (mosses), Filicinophyta (ferns), Coniferophyta (conifers) and Angiospermophyta (flowering plants).

Kingdom Animalia

• Multicellular eukaryotic organisms.
• Lack cell walls and have diverse feeding mechanisms, ranging from herbivory to carnivory.
• Includes many phyla (e.g., Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Nematoda, Annelida, Arthropoda, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Chordata).
• Divided into various groups based on characteristics (symmetry, segmentation, presence of a coelom)

Biodiversity in Malaysia

• Malaysia has a multitude of ecosystems, including tropical rainforests, mangrove swamps, and coastal areas.
• It possesses a wide variety of plant and animal species.
• Malaysia's geographic location and diverse ecosystems contribute to its high biodiversity.

Threats to Biodiversity

• Excessive logging.
• Pollution of water bodies (rivers, beaches)
• Illegal logging
• Over harvesting of aquatic species
• Exploitation of mangroves

Biodiversity Conservation

• In situ conservation (e.g., national parks).
• Ex situ conservation (e.g. botanical gardens, zoos, gene/germplasm banks).

Explore the fascinating world of biodiversity and the five kingdom classification system. Learn about the various levels of biodiversity including species, genetic, and ecological diversity. Understand the distinctions between organisms in the Prokaryotae, Protoctista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia kingdoms.