Introduction to Systematics and

Taxonomy

Science of Biology Part IV

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To Classify To arrange according to a system

Systematics The science of classificationAn organized method of grouping organisms based on similarities

Systematics

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TaxonomyTaxonomy

The science of naming and classifying organisms based on structural and physiological connections between organisms. Grouped into different hierarchal levels

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PhylogenyThe science of classifying organisms based on genetic connections between organisms • Based on the evolutionary development and history of that species or taxonomic grouping of organisms.

• Uses evidence from paleontology, comparative anatomy, comparative embryology, biochemistry, and molecular biology.

Phylogeny

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TaxonA group of organisms in a classification system• Each level is included in a larger more general level

• Organisms placed into a particular group are more similar to each other than they are to organisms in other groups

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8 different taxa (from general to specific)Domain

KingdomPhylum

ClassOrder

FamilyGenus

Species

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Species“kind” in LatinGroup of interbreeding organisms that do not ordinarily breed with members of other groups. Represented by both the genus name and the specific eptithet• Homo sapiens

According to the WWF, in 2008 scientists discovered 100 new plant species, 28 fish, 18 reptiles, 14 amphibians, two mammals and one bird in the Mekong River region of Southeast Asia. Cat Ba Leopard Gecko

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Domain Characteristics

3 Domains

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Prokaryotes

Domain BacteriaIncludes Kingdom Eubacteria• Contains only prokaryotes

Domain ArchaeaContains Kingdom Archaebacteria• Contains only prokaryotes

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Eukaryotes

Domain EukaryaContains only eukaryotes• Kingdom Protista• Kingdom Fungi• Kingdom Plantae• Kingdom Animalia

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Kingdom Characteristics

6 KingdomsKingdom EubacteriaKingdom ArchaeaKingdom ProtistaKingdom FungiKingdom PlantaeKingdom Animalia

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Kingdom Characteristics

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Kingdom EubacteriaProkaryotesUnicellularCell walls contain peptidoglycanAutotroph or heterotroph• Photoautotrophic or chemoautotrophic• Saprophytic – feed on dead substances• Parasitic – obtain nutrients from living organisms

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Kingdom ArchaebacteriaProkaryotesUnicellularCell walls do not contain peptidoglycanAutotroph or heterotroph• Photoautotrophic or chemoautotrophic• Saprophytic – feed on dead substances• Parasitic – obtain nutrients from living organismsLive in extreme environments

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Kingdom FungiEukaryoticCell walls

• contain chitinUnicellular or MulticellularHeterotrophs• Saprophytic or parasiticCan not moveYeast, mushrooms, mold

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Kingdom PlantaeEukaryoticCell walls with celluloseAlways multicellularPhotoautotrophsContain chloroplastsSpecialized tissues

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Kingdom AnimaliaEukaryoticNo cell wallsAlways MulticellularHeterotrophsCan move at some point in life cycle

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Kingdom ProtistaEukaryotes

• Fungus-like, plant-like or animal-like• Algae, euglenoids, ciliates,

protozoa, flagellates, diatomsUnicellular, Multicellular or colonialPhotoautotroph or heterotrophMay have cell walls with celluloseMay have chloroplasts

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•In kingdom Protista not because of what they have but because of what they don’t have!!!•They do not fit in any of the other eukaryotic kingdoms• Fungus-like can move at some time – True fungi cannot move

• Plant-like have cell walls and chloroplasts but no specialized tissues – true plants have tissues

• Animal-like can move but are single celled –true animals are multicellullar

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Scientific Names

Binomial Nomenclature2 part naming system•A standard naming system that gives each species a two part scientific name using Latin words

•First part of name is Genus name• Always capitalized

•Second part of name is specific epithet • Never capitalized • Distinguishes a species from others in the same genus.

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Binomial Nomenclature

Always write both names when naming an organismIf handwritten underline each name part separatelyif typed use italics•Do not do both

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ExamplesQuercus albaTyto alba

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