Taxonomy: Biological Classification

To study the diversity of life, biologists use a classification system to name organisms and group them in a logical manner. Tacitus bellus

Taxonomy - discipline of classifying organisms and assigning each organism a universally accepted name. Populus tremuloides Quaking Aspen

In order to avoid confusion by referring to organisms by their common names, scientists began using binomial nomenclature, in which each species is assigned a two part scientific name.

Carolus von Linnaeus (1707-1778) Binomial Nomenclature was developed by Carolus Linnaeus. The scientific name is always written in italics. The first word is capitalized, and the second word is lowercased. Carolus von Linnaeus (1707-1778)

There are seven levels, or taxons, in the system of classification: Kingdom Largest and most inclusive group of closely related phyla Phylum group of closely related Classes Class group of similar Orders Order group of similar Families Family group of Genera that share characteristics Genus group of closely related species and the first part of the scientific name in binomial nomenclature Species group of similar organisms that breed & produce fertile offspring

The Six-Kingdom system of classification includes the kingdoms: Eubacteria Archeabacteria Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

The Six-Kingdoms fall into categories called domains The Six-Kingdoms fall into categories called domains. Domains are made up of certain kingdoms. Bacteria: eubacteria Archaea: archaebacteria Eukarya: protists, fungi, plants, and animals

Eubacteria Bacteria are unicellular prokaryotes. They can be autotrophic or heterotrophic. Examples include strep and E. coli. Streptococcus mutans (can cause endocarditis and dental caries) Bacillus anthracis (spores can live in soil for years)

first detected in extreme environments, such as volcanic hot springs. Archae Archae are unicellular prokaryotes. They can be autotrophs or heterotrophs. They live in extreme environment with no oxygen. Archaea first detected in extreme environments, such as volcanic hot springs.

Eukarya Eukarya consists of all organisms that have a nucleus. Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Entamoeba histolytica Protista Protista – are organisms that cannot be classified as animals, plants, or fungi. Most are unicellular, but some can be multicellular. Some are autotrophs and some are heterotrophs. Entamoeba histolytica

Epidermophyton floccosum Fungi Boletus zelleri (Edible, but often infected with fly larvae) Fungi – are heterotrophs. Most feed on dead or decaying organic matter. They secrete digestive enzymes into their food and then absorb the smaller food molecules into their bodies. Can be multicelluar or unicellular. Examples include mushrooms and yeast. Epidermophyton floccosum (one of the causes of athlete's foot)

Sunflowers in Fargo, North Dakota Plantae Plantae – are multicellular autotrophs. Examples include mosses, ferns, cone-bearing and flower bearing plants. Ginkgo biloba Ginkgos are often very long-lived. Some specimens are thought to be more than 3,500 years old.

Colony of sponges Animalia Animalia – multicellular heterotrophs. Examples include mammals, insects, reptiles, fish and birds. Txodes scapularis Deer tick

How many kingdoms? 6