Taxonomy

Taxonomy - study of classifying organisms

Taxonomists are scientists who study classifying

Taxon ( taxa-plural) is a category into which related organisms are placed

Reasons to Classify:•Shows evolutionary relationships•Accurately & uniformly names organisms•Prevents misnomers such as starfish & jellyfish that aren't really fish•Uses same language (Latin) for all names•Prevents duplicated names because all names must be approved by International Naming Congresses (International Zoological Congress)•Naming rules are followed called the International Code for Binomial Nomenclature

Early Taxonomy:•Aristotle was the first taxonomist dividing organisms into land, sea, & air dwellers

•John Ray was the first to use Latin for naming

•Linnaeus developed the modern system of naming known as binomial nomenclature, a two-word name (Genus & species

•Scientific names should be italicized in print or underlined when writing•Always capitalize the genus name, but write the species in lower case•The scientific name for man is Homo sapiens•The genus name may be abbreviated, but not the species (H. sapiens)

What does a Puma, Cougar and Mountain Lion have in common?

They are all the same organisms just with different common names.

Common names are different names for the same organism based on where they live.

Taxonomic categories:Linnaeus placed organisms into related groups called taxa (taxon-singular) based on their morphology (similar structure & function)

The broadest taxon is called the domain (used to be Kingdom)

Linnaeus put all organisms into one of two kingdoms --- Plantae or Animalia

8 Division of Classification: (Broadest to most specific)

DomainKingdomPhylumClassOrderFamilyGenusspecies

Three Domains:

1. Archaebacteria: “ Ancient Bacteria” , First living cells, live in extreme

conditionsKnown as EXTREMOPHILES

-live in swamps, guts of animals,salty oceans

volcanic vents and hot springs.

2. Eubacteria: “True bacteria”Bacteria which affects your

everyday life some even causingtooth decay,spoils our food, causes

illness. Evolved from archaebacteria.

3. Eukarya: “True Nucleus”, this domain contains all organisms whose cells contain a nucleus:

Divided into 4 kingdoms

Protista:

Fungi:

Plantae:

Animalia:

Each taxa is a proper noun &should be capitalized except species

Each level or taxon groups together organisms that share more characteristics than the level above

Botanists use the term division instead of phylum for classifying plants

Plant species are subdivided into varieties, while bacteria are subdivided into strains

Unicellular- Made up of only one cell

Multicellular-Made up of many cells

Prokaryotic- Cells without a nucleus

Eukaryotic-Cells with a nucleus

AutotrophicMakes own foodPhotosynthesis

HeterotrophicObtains food from other sources

Domain Archae-bacteria

Eu-bacteria

Eukarya

Kingdom Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Unicellular, Multicellular or both

AutotrophicHeterotrophic or both

Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic

Mobile or nonmobile

Examples:

Domain Archae-bacteria

Eu-bacteria

Eukarya

Kingdom Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia

Unicellular, Multicellular or both

unicellular unicellular BothMost uni

BothMost multi

multi multi

AutotrophicHeterotrophic or both

both both both hetero auto hetero

Prokaryotic or Eukaryotic

Pro Pro Eu Eu Eu Eu

Mobile or nonmobile

mobile mobile mobile non non mobile

Examples: Thermoproteus

E.ColiSalmonella

AmoebaParameciumEuglenadiatom

Mushroommold

FernRoseOak treemoss

Human WormSpongespider

What is a species?The Biological Species Concept (BSC) explains that organisms are members of the same species if they can interbreed and their offspring are not sterile.

Ex: donkeys & horses are different species because t their offspring (mules) are sterile.

Ex: grey wolves (Canis lupus) and coyotes (Canis latrans) are the same species,

offspring are red wolves (Canis rufus) which are able to reproduce

The Phylogenetic Species Concept which explains that a species is a group of organisms with a distinct evolutionary past.

Ex: red wolves do not have unique genetic characteristics

Family: Ursidae

Ursus arctus Ursus americanus

Ursus maritimus

What about Grolar Bears?

Day 10Grolar Bear Article Questions:1. What is a grolar bear?2. What does a grolar bear look like?3. Why are biologists excited about this particular

bear?4. Why do biologists predict grolar bears will

become more common?5. According to the Biological Species Concept,

should polar and grizzly bears be classified as separate species? Explain.