An Introduction

What is Biodiversity? “Biological diversity – or biodiversity – is the term given to the variety of life on Earth. It is the variety within and between all species of plants, animals and micro-organisms and the ecosystems within which they live and interact.” -http://www.wwf.org.au/our_work/saving_the_natural_world/what_is_biodiversity/

Part 1 - Taxonomy Taxonomy is the science of identifying, naming and classifying organisms, such as plants, animals, fungi, bacteria, etc. By grouping things into defined hierarchies and giving individual names to organisms, we create order which allows us to study the chaotic world of nature more easily. Aristotle – Created a classification of animals grouped together animals with similar characters into genera and then distinguished the species within the genera. He divided the animals into types; those with blood, and those without blood; animals that live on land, and animals that live in water; and then plants. Linnaeus – Became the first to create rules for assigning names to plants and animals. He developed binomial nomenclature – a system of rules where every plant and animal is given a genus name followed by a species name, with both names being in Latin. Example: Humans are Homo sapiens.

An example of Aristotle’s classification system.

The Kingdom Problem Two groups of organisms existed in the beginning – plants and animals. If an organism was motile (it could move) it was in the animal group, if it could not, it was in the plant group. Also based on if organisms were photosynthetic or not. But then! The microscope was created – what was discovered? Single celled organisms. Some of these organisms were moving, and some were not – all was well, until! Euglena was discovered. This single cell organism was moving and was also photosynthetic. So now what? A new kingdom was created – Kingdom Protista. All was well again, until! Even better microscopes were created and more detail was seen within the unicellular organisms. So where would these new organisms go, that didn't have a nucleus or membrane bound organelles? Kingdom Monera.

The Kingdom Problem Cont’d As better microscopes came along, scientists were better able to see organisms. In kingdom Plantae for example, they noticed some organisms were not photosynthetic – instead these organisms absorbed their nutrients from the ground. So! Kingdom Fungi was created. Monera, Protista, Fungi, Planate, Animalia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F38BmgPcZ_I

Assignment 1 For class today, please read pages 326-331 and answer questions 1-6 on page 331. If this is not done in class, please complete for homework.

Activity 1 What Is A Swizzle? You may do this activity with a partner, or by yourself, and have about 10 minutes to complete it. We will go over the answers as a class.

Activity 2 Classification Activity – Page 332-333. Only analysis on page 333, not evaluation. If not complete for class, it is homework. We will go over the answers Friday as a class. I will be doing a homework check. Also have questions 1-6 on page 331 due for Friday.

For Next Class Tomorrow we will be in the computer lab, room 117. Please meet at the lab. Ensure your group knows your virus! I will confirm presentation dates and clarify any questions you may have about the project. The goal of tomorrow’s class is to work with your group to gather information about your virus, and discuss your presentation, so please use your time wisely. If you missed class the day we picked groups and dates, please see me as soon as possible. Someone from your group needs to send me an update (via email) by the end of the day Friday, November 7th. This will be a simple email telling me the ideas you have had for your project and what research and work you have accomplished so far.

Words To Know Homologous Structures – Structures in different species that are similar because of a common ancestor. Common Ancestor – The most recent ancestral form or species from which two different species evolved. Comparative Embryology – Comparison of the development of the embryos of two or more different species. The first study of this was undertaken by Aristotle when he noted the differences in the way animals are born and their cell division patterns. Phylogenetic Tree – A branching diagram that represents a hypothesis about evolutionary relationships.

In Class Assignment Using your notes and textbook, please complete the following in class assignment. This is to be done individually and handed in at the end of class. No phones are allowed. Yes, this one will be marked! When you are finished, please take the sheet of animals from the front. Please cut your animals out and bring them to class on Wednesday.

More Words To Know Species – Subdivision of biological classification composed of related organisms that share common characteristics and can interbreed. Taxa – plural form of taxon. Any group or rank in a biological classification into which related organisms are classified. A taxonomic unit in the biological system of classification of organisms. Phylogeny – The evolutionary history of a taxonomic group of organisms. The evolutionary development of a species or of a taxonomic group of organisms. Dichotomous Key – A reference tool where a series of choices between alternative characters leads progressively to the identification of the species

Phylogenic Tree

Activity 3 – Phylogenetic Tree You will be using the animals you have cut out to create a phylogenetic tree. You may work with a partner to do this activity, or you can do it alone. When you are finished, please put it in the basket at the back. White paper to glue your animals on is on the side counter. When you have finished, you have two options: Complete the handout (from Monday) using the orange textbook. Page 366-380. Work on your virus project. We will not have another computer lab day, but you may use the computers at the back. If you would like to bring in some material (for a poster, for example) and work on when class work is finished, you can do that as well.

Dichotomous/Spider Key A dichotomous key is usually a written device constructed from a series of highly organized statements arranged into couplets, 1a, 1b. A couplet consists of two descriptions which should represent mutually exclusive choices (often it is a particular combination of characteristics that determines the difference.) Both choices are read and compared with the specimen to be identified. Once a decision is made, that selection directs you to another couplet (either the next in order or one further on in the key), and this process is repeated until a conclusion (successful identification) is reached.

Example

Activity 4/5 – Aliens/Leaves You will do this activity for homework, and we will go over the answers as a class. This activity will introduce you to using a dichotomous key to name organisms (similar to the whale activity). When you are finished, you can being working on the “Leaf Lab” This activity will have you create both a spider key and a dichotomous key. Please refer to the pages listed in your textbook. Have your spider key checked by me before you proceed to your dichotomous key, so I can see everyone is on the right track. You will be handing this in on Wednesday. Examples are at the front for you to look at if you wish.

Definitions For Tuesday Please have the following definitions complete for Tuesday, so you are prepared for the 2 day in class activity. Prokaryote, Eukaryote, Unicellular, Multicellular, Autotrophic, Heterotrophic (Absorptive & Ingestive), Motile, Non-Motile, Vascular, Non- Vascular, Asymmetrical, Radial Symmetry, Bilateral Symmetry.

Extra Resources Comparative Embryology Homologous Structures Taxonomy Information Darwin’s Theory of Evolution Dichotomous Key – Information & Activity Phylogenetic Tree Phylogenetic Tree 2 Cladogram