1 Classification copyright cmassengale

Why classify? Think of three examples where we group things. Why do we group these things? Sorting activity

3 There are 13 billion known species of organisms There are 13 billion known species of organisms This is only 5% of all organisms that ever lived!!!!! This is only 5% of all organisms that ever lived!!!!! New organisms are still being found and identified New organisms are still being found and identified Species of Organisms copyright cmassengale

4 What is Classification? Classification is the arrangement of organisms into orderly groups based on their similarities Classification is also known as taxonomy Taxonomists are scientists that identify & name organisms copyright cmassengale

5 Benefits of Classifying Accurately & uniformly names organisms Accurately & uniformly names organisms Prevents misnomers such as starfish & jellyfish that aren't really fish Prevents misnomers such as starfish & jellyfish that aren't really fish Uses same language (Latin or some Greek) for all names Uses same language (Latin or some Greek) for all names Sea”horse”?? copyright cmassengale

6 Confusion in Using Different Languages for Names copyright cmassengale

7 Latin Names are Understood by all Taxonomists copyright cmassengale

8 Early Taxonomists 2000 years ago, Aristotle was the first taxonomist 2000 years ago, Aristotle was the first taxonomist divided organisms into plants & animals divided organisms into plants & animals subdivided them by their habitat -- -land, sea, or air dwellers subdivided them by their habitat -- -land, sea, or air dwellers copyright cmassengale

9 Early Taxonomists John Ray, a botanist, was the first to use Latin for naming John Ray, a botanist, was the first to use Latin for naming His names were very long descriptions telling everything about the plant His names were very long descriptions telling everything about the plant copyright cmassengale

Binomial Nomenclature Two-name system: First name is the organism’s genus Second name is the organism’s species

What rules are used to write scientific names? The first letter of the genus is ALWAYS capitalized The first letter of the species is NEVER capitalized Scientific names of organisms are always italicized or underlined

12 Binomial Nomenclature Which TWO are more closely related? copyright cmassengale

13 Rules for Naming Organisms The International Code for Binomial Nomenclature contains the rules for naming organisms The International Code for Binomial Nomenclature contains the rules for naming organisms All names must be approved by International Naming Congresses (International Zoological Congress) All names must be approved by International Naming Congresses (International Zoological Congress) This prevents duplicated names This prevents duplicated names copyright cmassengale

14 Hierarchy-Taxonomic Groups Domain Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species BROADEST TAXON Most Specific copyright cmassengale

15 Helpful way to remember the 7 levels King Philip Came Over For Grape Soda. King Philip Came Over For Green Skittles. Write your own

16 Dumb King Phillip Came Over For Gooseberry Soup! copyright cmassengale

17 Cladogram Diagram showing how organisms are related based on shared, derived characteristics such as feathers, hair, or scales copyright cmassengale

18 Primate Cladogram copyright cmassengale

19 Using the Classification System Field guides help identify organisms. -they highlight differences between similar organisms (like trees) Taxonomic Key (Dichotomous Key) -paired statements that describe the physical characteristics of different organisms

20 Dichotomous Keying Used to identify organisms Used to identify organisms Characteristics given in pairs Characteristics given in pairs Read both characteristics and either go to another set of characteristics OR identify the organism Read both characteristics and either go to another set of characteristics OR identify the organism copyright cmassengale

21 Example of Dichotomous Key 1a Tentacles present – Go to 2 1b Tentacles absent – Go to 3 2a Eight Tentacles – Octopus 2b More than 8 tentacles – 3 3a Tentacles hang down – go to 4 3b Tentacles upright–Sea Anemone 4a Balloon-shaped body–Jellyfish 4b Body NOT balloon-shaped - 5 copyright cmassengale

22copyright cmassengale