Biology Classification Vocabulary Flashcards

Biodiversity and Classification

• Biodiversity encompasses the variety of organisms across all levels, from populations to ecosystems.
• Taxonomy is the systematic classification of plants and animals based on their natural relationships.
• A taxon is a classification group that organizes organisms systematically.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

• Domain is the broadest taxonomic category, larger than a kingdom.
• Kingdom is the second largest group, encompassing major life forms: Animalia, Plantae, Protista, Eubacteria, Archaebacteria, and Fungi.
• Phylum represents major classifications within kingdoms, while division specifically refers to plant groups.
• Class groups organisms into one or more related orders; order contains families, and family includes one or more genera.
• Genus consists of related species, leading to the most specific classification: species, which can breed to produce fertile offspring.

Subclassification

• Subspecies showcases genetic variations of the same species due to different environmental adaptations.
• Variety refers to species members with minor but heritable variations.
• Strain indicates minor differences within species groups.

Naming and Classification Systems

• Binomial nomenclature is a two-word naming system for organisms, combining genus and species names.
• Systematics studies biological diversity in environmental contexts, involving both taxonomy and phylogenetic history.

Evolutionary Relationships

• Phylogenetics analyzes the evolutionary relationships between taxa.
• A phylogenetic diagram, or phylogenetic tree, visually represents ancestral relationships among species.
• Homologous features originate from a common ancestor but serve different functions; e.g., dolphin flippers and human hands.
• Analogous features are similar in function or appearance but do not have a shared evolutionary origin.

Cladistics and Characters

• Cladistics is a biological classification method based on evolutionary history and derived traits.
• Shared characters are features unique to a particular clade.
• Derived characters evolve within specific taxonomic groups, defining their uniqueness.
• A clade includes an ancestral species and all its descendants.

Diagrams and Analysis

• Cladograms depict evolutionary relationships; molecular clocks estimate evolution timelines based on DNA comparisons.

Organism Classification

• Amnion is an extraembryonic membrane in certain vertebrates that surrounds the embryo.
• Eukaryotes have complex cells with nuclei and organelles, while prokaryotes are unicellular and lack membrane-bound nuclei.
• Bacteria represent a domain of unicellular prokaryotes with peptidoglycan cell walls.
• Archaea are ancient, single-celled organisms thriving in extreme environments.
• Eukarya includes all organisms with nucleated cells, such as protists, plants, fungi, and animals.

Kingdom Descriptions

• Archaebacteria thrive in extreme conditions (high temperature, salinity, reduced oxygen).
• Protista consists of eukaryotic organisms not classified as plants, animals, or fungi.
• Fungi are eukaryotes that absorb nutrients externally; they are heterotrophic.
• Plantae comprises all living or extinct plants, while Animalia includes all living or extinct animals.

Enhance your understanding of key terms in biological classification with this set of flashcards. Each card presents a word related to biodiversity and taxonomy, along with its definition. Perfect for students looking to strengthen their grasp of ecology and organism classification.