Diversity in the Living World and Taxonomy

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary terms and concepts related to the study of biology, diversity in living organisms, and the principles of taxonomy.

Biology

The science of life forms and living processes.

Biodiversity

The variety of life forms and the number of species present on Earth.

Nomenclature

The process of naming living organisms in a standardized way.

Taxonomy

The science of classification of organisms into groups based on shared characteristics.

Binomial Nomenclature

A two-word naming system for organisms developed by Carolus Linnaeus.

Species

A group of individual organisms with fundamental similarities that can reproduce.

Genus

A group of related species that share more characteristics with each other.

Family

A group of related genera sharing common features.

Order

A higher taxonomic category that includes families with fewer similarities.

Class

A taxonomic category that includes related orders.

Phylum

A taxonomic category that includes classes with common features.

Kingdom

The highest taxonomic category grouping various phyla.

Systematics

A branch of study focusing on the relationships among organisms.

Identification

The process of determining the identity of an organism.

Classification

The grouping of organisms into convenient categories based on observable features.

Ernst Mayr

A prominent evolutionary biologist known for contributions to taxonomy and the study of biodiversity.