The Six Kingdoms of Classification

Classification: The process of putting similar things into groups. Taxonomy: Is the science of classifying organisms.

History of Classification 4000 B.C. Philosopher Aristotle (Greek)-Created first written classification scheme TWO Groups - Plants & Animals Animal group - anything that lived on land, in the water or in the air. Plant group - based this on their different stems 1500's - 1700's Many different classification systems created Many of them really complicated Names based on common names - This created confusion Names also based on long scientific definitions

1700's - Carols Linnaeus - Swedish Biologist History of Classification Contiued 1700's - Carols Linnaeus - Swedish Biologist established a simple system for classifying and naming organisms Based on structural similarities of organism Binomial Nomenclature - 2 name naming system - still in use today. Created a system of groups called TAXA or TAXON Each Taxon is a category into which related organisms are placed Approximantly 2.5 million kinds of organisms identified

Levels of Classification Kingdoms Phyla (Phylum-singular) Classes Orders Families Genus Species (King Philip Came Over For Good Spaghetti)

Scientific Names-always the same for a specific organism, no matter how many common names it has. Ex) Tyrannosaurus rex Dichotomous Keys- help to identify organisms. Have pairs of descriptive statements Two alternative responses Person chooses appropriate statement Then, directed to another pair of statements. You can eventually identify organism

Kingdom Archaebacteria Contains single-celled prokaryotic organisms. This kingdom includes the methangogens, or methane producing bacteria, which must live in an oxygen free environment. Includes salt-loving bacteria, or halophiles. Psychrophiles live in extremely cold temperatures and thermopiles live in extremely hot temperatures.

Archaebacteria cont. Acidophilus prefer acidic conditions. These bacteria are the most ancient forms of life on Earth and have existed for over 3 billion years. The prefix archae means “ancient.” Archaebacteria live in very extreme environments such as at the bottom of the ocean near the thermal vents, the Great Salt Lake, or in hot springs.

Kingdom Erbacteria Found almost anywhere. Single-celled prokaryotes. Some are disease causing parasites. Some can photosynthesize to create their own food. Bacteria are one of the most important decomposers. Some help make food – yogurt & cheese.

Eubacteria cont. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria change the nitrogen in the air into a form that plants can use. Some bacteria help clean oil-spills. Some are mobile. Classified and named according to shape: Bacillus – rod shaped bacteria Coccus – spherical shaped Spirillum – spiral-shaped.

Kingdom Protista Eukaryotic Most are unicellular, some multi-cellular. Protista are both heterotrophic and autotrophic. Heterotrophic- eat other organisms or decaying matter to obtain energy. Autotrophic – make their own food by photosynthesis.

Protista Cont. Three Groups Animal like: unicellular, heterotrophic and mobile – these are called protozoan and use cilia, flagella or psuedopods to move. Ex. Amoeba and paramecium Plant-like: ability to make their own food by photosynthesis. Ex. Euglena and algae. Fungus-like: decomposers. Ex. Slime molds and downy mildew

Kingdom Fungi All eukaryotic, heterotrophic organisms. Most are decomposers, but some are parasitic, such as Athlete’s Foot. Fungi can be unicellular(ex. Yeast) or multicellular. Can not move on their own. Fungi digest their food outside their bodies then absorb it.

Fungi Cont. Classified according to structure and method of reproduction. Some can be eaten as food, others are poisonous. Fungi include: black bread mold, baker’s yeast, mushrooms, truffles, and penicillium, the fungus that makes penicillin.

Kingdom Plantae All are autotrophic, eukaryotes, multi-cellular and non-mobile. Contain chloroplasts and have cell walls that contain cellulose. Need sunlight, water carbon dioxide and minerals to survive. Divided into four groups based on three features: water conduction tissues, seeds and flowers.

Plantae Cont. Bryophytes – nonvascular plants. ex. – mosses, liverworts and hornworts. Seedless vascular plants – ex. Club mosses and ferns. Seed Plants (divided into two groups) Gymnosperms (naked seeds) ex. Ginkgoes and conifers. Angiosperms (enclosed seeds) – 2 types: Monocots – ex. Corn, wheat and lilies Dicots – ex. Roses, tomatoes and oaks

Kingdom Animalia All are multi-cellular, made up of eukaryotic cells and are heterotrophs. Two groups: Invertebrates – without a backbone. These make up 95% of animal species. - Vertebrates – with a backbone. These make up the remaining 5% of all animal species.