1. The Organization of Life
Section #3:
The Diversity of Living Things

2. Imposing Order on Diversity
Scientists like to group and organize life on earth based on different characteristics
Scientists can then make connections and comparisons between the diversity of life

3. The Kingdoms of Life

5. BACTERIA microscopic single-celled organisms usually have cell walls
lack nuclei
reproduce by dividing in half
found in every habitat on Earth

6. Role of Bacteria
break down the remains and waste material of other organisms to return nutrients to the soil
recycle mineral nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus
convert nutrients into a form that others can use them

7. FUNGI have nuclei cell wall no chlorophyll
absorb food & nutrients from their surroundings
also play a role in the break down of dead materials

8. PROTISTS diverse group
most are one-celled microscopic organisms like amoebas, diatoms, plasmodium
some are plant-like, including algae

9. PROTISTS
from an environmental standpoint – the algae are the most important protists because of their ability to make their own food from the sun’s energy
algae (from seaweed to pond scum) are the initial source of food in most ocean & freshwater ecosystems

10. PLANTS multi-cellular make their own food (photosynthesis)
have a cell wall
most live on land
roots underground collect water & minerals from the soil
leaves collect sunlight and gases from the atmosphere

11. Vascular Tissue
system of tubes that carry water & food to the rest of the plant
this tissue also provides a “skeletal” system so plant can grow upwards

12. Vascular Tissue

13. LOWER PLANTS mosses, ferns, club mosses have no vascular tissue
cannot grow very large
have swimming sperm
must live in damp places

14. GYMNOSPERMS pine trees + other evergreens a.k.a. conifers cone-bearers
woody plants that can live in drier environments because they use pollen to protect & transport sperm
needle-like leaves lose little water

15. ANGIOSPERMS flowering plants produce seeds in fruit
pollen is carried by
wind, insects, birds or animals
seeds are dispersed by animals & birds
source of food for most land animals + provide a wide range of building materials & fibers for humans

16. ANIMALS many-celled cannot make their own food no cell wall
bodies are soft & flexible
some have developed skeletons –either internal or external
most are more mobile than plants

17. INVERTEBRATES lack backbones
some live attached to a hard surface in the ocean & act as filter-feeders
only move during larvae stage
examples = corals & mollusks

18. INSECTS insects are most abundant & successful because of
waterproof shell
move quickly
reproduce quickly
some can fly
small size allows them to hide easily and find habitats almost anywhere

19. VERTEBRATES have backbones
examples = fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals

20. Discussion:
What are some possible ways that each group of vertebrates has adapted to increase survival compared to the other groups?
mobility
temperature regulation
reproduction
Habitat (food, niche, competition)