3.4.5 Species and taxonomy

Taxonomy

the science of naming, defining and classifying groups of organisms based on their shared characteristics

phylogenetic classification

arranges species into groups based on their evolutionary origins and relationships

taxon

each group within a hierarchy

System hierarchy

Domain

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

species

organisms which can produce fertile offspring

Purpose of Courtship rituals

-Synchronise mating

-find mate capable of breeding

-Identify same species

-form a pair bond

Reason for using standard deviations when analysing variation

acts as an indication of the range of values about the mean

large standard deviation indicates poor reliability

binomial

scientific name for species using its genus and species name