The Living World - Diversity and Nomenclature

Vocabulary terms and definitions from the lecture notes covering biological diversity, taxonomic identification, and the principles of binomial nomenclature.

Species

Each different kind of plant, animal or organism that represents a distinct category of life.

Biodiversity

The number and types of organisms present on earth, currently described as ranging between $1.7-1.8$ million species.

Nomenclature

The process of standardizing the naming of living organisms such that a particular organism is known by the same name all over the world.

Identification

The process of correctly describing an organism to ensure the correct name is attached to it, enabling nomenclature.

International Code for Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN)

The set of agreed principles and criteria used by biologists to provide scientific names for plants.

International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN)

The system evolved by animal taxonomists to provide scientific names for animals.

Binomial nomenclature

A system of naming organisms using two components: the Generic name and the specific epithet.

Carolus Linnaeus

The biologist who developed and gave the system of binomial nomenclature used worldwide.

Generic name

The first component of the two-word format in binomial nomenclature, representing the genus.

Specific epithet

The second component of the two-word format in binomial nomenclature used to identify a specific species within a genus.