Characteristics and Classification of Living Organisms

Classification of Living Organisms

• Based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships
• Main categories: Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Characteristics of Living Organisms

• Basic characteristics:
  • Organization (structure and function)
  • Metabolism (energy conversion)
  • Homeostasis (regulation of internal environment)
  • Growth and Development
  • Reproduction
  • Response to Stimuli
  • Evolution
• Derived characteristics:
  • Movement (locomotion)
  • Sensitivity (response to stimuli)
  • Nutrition (autotrophic or heterotrophic)

Levels of Diversity

• Species diversity: variety of species within an ecosystem or region
• Genetic diversity: variation in genes within a species
• Ecological diversity: variety of ecosystems and interactions within an ecosystem
• Functional diversity: variety of roles and functions performed by different species

Types of Diversity

• Morphological diversity: variation in physical characteristics
• Physiological diversity: variation in metabolic processes and functions
• Behavioral diversity: variation in behavior and interactions

Importance of Diversity

• Maintains ecosystem balance and stability
• Provides ecosystem services (e.g. pollination, decomposition)
• Supports adaptation to changing environments
• Offers potential for new discoveries and innovations

Threats to Diversity

• Habitat destruction and fragmentation
• Climate change
• Overexploitation of resources
• Invasive species
• Pollution

Conservation Efforts

• Protected areas (e.g. national parks, wildlife reserves)
• Species conservation programs (e.g. breeding programs, reintroduction)
• Sustainable resource management
• Education and awareness campaigns
• Policy and legislation changes

Classification of Living Organisms

• Based on shared characteristics and evolutionary relationships, living organisms are classified into: • Domain • Kingdom • Phylum • Class • Order • Family • Genus • Species

Characteristics of Living Organisms

• Basic characteristics of living organisms include: • Organization (structure and function) • Metabolism (energy conversion) • Homeostasis (regulation of internal environment) • Growth and Development • Reproduction • Response to Stimuli • Evolution
• Derived characteristics of living organisms include: • Movement (locomotion) • Sensitivity (response to stimuli) • Nutrition (autotrophic or heterotrophic)

Levels of Diversity

• There are four levels of diversity: • Species diversity (variety of species within an ecosystem or region) • Genetic diversity (variation in genes within a species) • Ecological diversity (variety of ecosystems and interactions within an ecosystem) • Functional diversity (variety of roles and functions performed by different species)

Types of Diversity

• There are three types of diversity: • Morphological diversity (variation in physical characteristics) • Physiological diversity (variation in metabolic processes and functions) • Behavioral diversity (variation in behavior and interactions)

Importance of Diversity

• Diversity is important because it: • Maintains ecosystem balance and stability • Provides ecosystem services (e.g. pollination, decomposition) • Supports adaptation to changing environments • Offers potential for new discoveries and innovations

Threats to Diversity

• Diversity is threatened by: • Habitat destruction and fragmentation • Climate change • Overexploitation of resources • Invasive species • Pollution

Conservation Efforts

• Conservation efforts include: • Establishing protected areas (e.g. national parks, wildlife reserves) • Species conservation programs (e.g. breeding programs, reintroduction) • Sustainable resource management • Education and awareness campaigns • Policy and legislation changes