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# Ecology ## Naming and Classification of Species The scientific name of a species is *binomial*. The name begins with the genus name, written with a capital letter, followed by the species name written in lowercase letters. For example, *Homo sapiens* is the scientific name for modern humans. A...

# Ecology ## Naming and Classification of Species The scientific name of a species is *binomial*. The name begins with the genus name, written with a capital letter, followed by the species name written in lowercase letters. For example, *Homo sapiens* is the scientific name for modern humans. A species is a group of organisms that share similar morphological and physiological features, and are able to breed together and produce fertile offspring. Sometimes, it is possible to crossbreed species, but hybrid offspring are often infertile. Taxonomy classifies species according to their characteristics in a hierarchical structure. (Image 1) Species are the most specific level in taxonomy and the kingdom is the broadest. Domains are even broader than kingdoms and represent a very general classification. Species within the same genus are more closely related than species of the same family. ## Domains Organisms are classified into domains based on the type of rRNA they use to function. Bacteria and archaea are prokaryotes (lack a nucleus). The cell membranes of Bacteria are made up of double layers of phospholipids. Archaea have only a single layer of phospholipids in their cell membranes. **Image 1 (Diagram of Animal Classification):** This diagram illustrates the hierarchical classification of the red fox (*Vulpes vulpes*). The diagram is arranged in a hierarchical pyramid shape decreasing in specificity from Domain down to Species. **Image 2 (Diagram of the Tree of Life):** This image is a branching diagram, or phylogenetic tree, depicting evolutionary relationships among various organisms. The tree shows branching paths where species split over time, leading to new species. The diagram shows that organisms like animals, plants and fungi share a common ancestor in the past. Archaea and bacteria are also shown and different varieties of these organisms. The organisms are classified into Domains (Bacteria, Archaea, Eukarya). Within each domain are kingdoms etc.