Biology Classification and Biodiversity

Questions and Answers

What is the act of distributing similar things into categories of the same type called?

Classification (correct)

Phylogeny

Biodiversity

Taxonomy

What branch of science is concerned with classification of organisms?

Taxonomy

What is meant by biodiversity?

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat or ecosystem

What is the first and largest category in the classification levels?

Kingdom Signup and view all the answers

What is the most inclusive taxonomic category?

Domain Signup and view all the answers

What does phylogeny refer to?

The evolutionary history of an organism Signup and view all the answers

Who developed a new system of grouping organisms?

Carlos Linnaeus Signup and view all the answers

What is the two-word naming system that gives all organisms their scientific name?

Binomial Nomenclature Signup and view all the answers

What are the classification levels?

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species Signup and view all the answers

What tool is used for identifying organisms based on characteristics?

Dichotomous Key Signup and view all the answers

What are the 6 kingdoms of life?

Archaea, Bacteria, Protists, Fungi, Plants, Animals Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes Archaea?

Prokaryotic, Unicellular, Live in extreme environments Signup and view all the answers

What types of organisms are included in Bacteria?

Prokaryotic, Unicellular, Autotrophs and Heterotrophs Signup and view all the answers

What are protists characterized by?

Eukaryotic, mostly unicellular, autotrophs and heterotrophs Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes fungi?

Eukaryotic, mostly multicellular, heterotrophs Signup and view all the answers

What defines plants?

Eukaryotic, multicellular, autotrophic Signup and view all the answers

What are the characteristics of animals?

Eukaryotic, multicellular, heterotrophs Signup and view all the answers

What is a prokaryotic cell?

A cell that does not have a nucleus or any other membrane-covered organelles Signup and view all the answers

What is a eukaryotic cell?

A cell with a membrane-enclosed nucleus and membrane-enclosed organelles Signup and view all the answers

What is an autotroph?

An organism that makes its own food Signup and view all the answers

What is a heterotroph?

An organism that cannot make its own food Signup and view all the answers

What does unicellular mean?

Made of a single cell Signup and view all the answers

What does multicellular mean?

Consisting of many cells Signup and view all the answers

What is a saprophyte?

Organism that uses dead organisms as a food source Signup and view all the answers

What defines a vascular plant?

Plant with tube-like structures that move minerals, water, and other substances Signup and view all the answers

What defines a nonvascular plant?

Plant that absorbs water and other substances directly through its cell walls Signup and view all the answers

What is an invertebrate?

An animal without a backbone Signup and view all the answers

What is a vertebrate?

Animal with a backbone Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Classification and Biodiversity Concepts

Classification: Distribution of similar organisms into categories for organization and understanding.
Taxonomy: Scientific discipline focused on the classification of organisms, encompassing identification and naming.
Biodiversity: Represents the variety of life forms within a specific habitat or the entire planet.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

Kingdom: The largest and most inclusive category in biological classification.
Domain: The broadest taxonomic category, which surpasses kingdoms in classification hierarchy.
Classification Levels: Include seven hierarchical categories: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Key Historical Figures

Linnaeus: Carlos Linnaeus pioneered a systematic approach to organism classification, grouping plants by shared flower characteristics.

Naming System

Binomial Nomenclature: Two-part naming convention for organisms, structured as "Genus species" to provide clarity and uniformity.

Identification Tools

Dichotomous Key: A systematic method for identifying organisms, consisting of paired statements that guide users through specific characteristics.

Kingdoms of Life

6 Kingdoms: The primary groups of life include Archaea, Bacteria (Eubacteria), Protists, Fungi, Plants, and Animals.

Characteristics of Kingdoms

Archaea: Unicellular and prokaryotic organisms thriving in extreme conditions.
Bacteria: Prokaryotic and unicellular, can be autotrophic or heterotrophic, and adaptable to aerobic or anaerobic environments.
Protists: Diverse eukaryotic group, primarily unicellular, exhibiting autotrophic and heterotrophic traits (e.g., algae, protozoa).
Fungi: Mainly multicellular eukaryotes, falling under heterotrophs; often serve as decomposers, examples include mushrooms and yeasts.
Plants: Multicellular eukaryotes that are primarily autotrophic, can be vascular (e.g., trees) or nonvascular (e.g., mosses).
Animals: Multicellular eukaryotes that are heterotrophic and typically exhibit mobility during part of their life cycle.

Cellular Classification

Prokaryotic Cells: Lack a nucleus and membrane-bound organelles, characteristic of organisms like bacteria and archaea.
Eukaryotic Cells: Possess a membrane-enclosed nucleus and organelles, typical of protists, fungi, plants, and animals.

Nutritional Strategies

Autotroph: Organisms that produce their own food via processes like photosynthesis.
Heterotroph: Organisms that consume other organisms for nutrition.
Saprophyte: Organisms that decompose dead matter, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem.

Plant Classifications

Vascular Plants: Include structures that facilitate the movement of water and nutrients (e.g., flowers, trees).
Nonvascular Plants: Rely on direct absorption of water and nutrients through their cell walls.

Animal Classification

Invertebrates: Animals lacking a backbone (e.g., jellyfish, insects).
Vertebrates: Animals with a backbone (e.g., fish, mammals).

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Test your knowledge on key terms related to classification and biodiversity with these flashcards. Learn about important concepts such as taxonomy and the various levels of biological classification. Perfect for students studying biology or environmental science.