2. Monday, April 4 th Study Pack #4

3. Today’s Goals…  I can explain what classification is.  I can explain how and why scientists classify living things.  I can identify organisms using dichotomous keys.

4. Classification  Imagine a grocery store…  How are they organized?  What would happen if they were not organized?  How are other things in your life organized?

5. Classification  Imagine all the different kinds of organisms on Earth from bacteria to plants to animals…  Scientists need a way to keep them all organized so that they are easier to study!  Classification is the process of grouping things based on their similarities

6. Classification  Taxonomy is the scientific study of how living things are classified.  Classification is useful because it helps scientists:  Know more about the characteristics of organisms  Understand relationships between organisms  Identify unknown organisms

7. Levels of Classification  Organisms are classified into groups called Kingdoms  Example: Plant, Animal  Then they are classified into even smaller groups  There are seven levels of classification

8. Levels of Classification Kingdom broadest level Phylum Class Order Family Genus Speciesmost specific level

9. Levels of Classification  Remember this phrase:  King Phillip Came Over For Good Soup

10. Scientific Names  Organisms are given scientific names based on a system called Binomial Nomenclature  Organisms are given 2 names  Latin words  Genus + Species  Genus is capitalized; species is not  Words are italicized  Example: Homo sapiens (humans); Felis concolor (mountain lion)

11. Try it….  Let’s create a classification system for your clothes!  Now create a classification system for the animals below:  Bamboo shark  Robin  Horse  Rattlesnake

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

13. Using the Classification System  How to use a taxonomic/dichotomous key  Start by reading the first two statements (1a and 1b)  The two statements are opposites  Decide which statement applies  Follow the direction at the end of the statement  Continue this process until you have learned the organism’s identity!

14. Dichotomous Key  1. Fruits occur singly....................................................... Go to 3  1' Fruits occur in clusters of two or more......................... Go to 2  2. Fruits are round....................................................... Grapes  2' Fruits are elongate................................................... Bananas  3. Thick skin that separates easily from flesh.............Oranges  3' Thin skin that adheres to flesh.............................. Go to 4  4. More than one seed per fruit............................ Apples  4' One seed per fruit............................................ Go to 5  5. Skin covered with velvety hairs.................... Peaches  5' Skin smooth, without hairs........................... Plums

15. Dichotomous Key 1a. Organism has 4 legsGo to # 2 1b. Organism has more than 4 legsGo to # 20 2a. Organism has a tailGo to # 3 2b. Organism has no tailGo to # 35 3a. Organism has stripesBengal Tiger 3b. Organism has no stripesAfrican Lion

16. Dichotomous Key  Try this one: 1a. Organism walks on all 4 legs (quadruped)2 1b. Organism walks on 2 legs (biped)8 2a. Organism has visible fur3 2b. Organism has no visible fur20 3a. Organism lives in warm climates7 3b. Organism lives in cold climates4 4a. Organism has brown or black furUrsus americanus 4b. Organism has white furUrsus maritimus