Systematics: The Science of Biodiversity

A set of 50 vocabulary flashcards covering the main concepts related to systematics, biodiversity, classification, and evolutionary biology.

Systematics

The science of biodiversity that involves identifying, naming, and classifying species.

Biodiversity

The variety of life in the world or in a particular habitat, including the number of different species.

Taxonomy

The science of naming and classifying organisms.

Phylogeny

The evolutionary history of organisms.

Cladistics

A method of classification based on common ancestry.

Monophyletic group

A group that includes a common ancestor and all its descendants.

Paraphyletic group

A group that includes a common ancestor and some, but not all, of its descendants.

Polyphyletic group

A group defined by traits that look similar but have independent evolutionary origins.

Homology

Similarity due to common ancestry.

Analogy

Similarity due to convergent evolution, not common ancestry.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows the cladistic relationships between a number of species.

Binomial system

The two-part naming system for species, consisting of the genus name and species epithet.

Taxonomic Hierarchy

The ranked levels of classification used in taxonomy, including kingdom, phyla, class, order, family, genus, and species.

Kingdom Plantae

A taxonomic group that includes all plants.

Genus

The taxonomic category above species and below family.

Specific epithet

The second part of a binomial name, used to identify a species within a genus.

Eukarya

One of the three domains of life that includes organisms with complex cells.

Prokaryotes

Single-celled organisms that lack a nucleus, including bacteria and archaea.

Biological classification

The ordering of living things into categories based on their similarities and differences.

Genealogical classification

A classification that reflects the evolutionary relationships between organisms.

Natural system

A classification system that groups organisms based on natural relationships.

Common ancestor

An ancestor that multiple species share in common.

Taxon (plural: taxa)

Any group of organisms that is treated as a unit in a biological classification.

Derived characters

Traits that are new in the evolutionary lineage.

Outgroup

A species or group that is closely related to, but not part of, the group under study.

Mitochondria

Organelles that produce energy in eukaryotic cells; considered descendants of prokaryotic cells.

Chloroplast

Organelles in plant cells that conduct photosynthesis.

Divisions of life

The three main classifications; Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya.

Taxonomic ranks

Levels in the hierarchical structure of classification.

Phylogenetic tree

A branching diagram showing the evolutionary relationships among various biological species.

Conservation biology

The study and preservation of biodiversity and natural habitats.

Economics of systematics

The role of systematics in industries, such as fisheries, where misclassification can have economic implications.

Species richness

The number of different species represented in a given ecological community.

Evolutionary relationships

Connections between species based on their evolutionary history.

Natural selection

The process through which species adapt to their environment over time.

Endemism

Plants and animals that are found only in a specific geographic area.

Morphological traits

Physical characteristics used to distinguish between species.

Genetic sequencing

The process of determining the order of nucleotides in DNA.

Phylogenetic analysis

The study of evolutionary relationships among taxa.

Common classification errors

Mistakes made in categorizing species based on inadequate information.

Species dissociation

The process by which species diverge from a common ancestor.

Extinct species

Species that no longer exist.

Living fossil

An organism that has remained unchanged for millions of years.

Ecological niches

The role or function of a species within its environment.

Speciation

The process by which new species arise.

Phylogenetic species concept

Defines a species as the smallest group of individuals that share a common ancestor.

Evolutionary potential

The ability of a species to adapt and evolve over time.

Ancestral traits

Characteristics inherited from a common ancestor.