5.3 (Classification of biodiversity)

Archaeans

one of the prokaryotic domains of life. They tend to live in extreme environments, they have RNA polymerases and ribosomes that are closer to eukaryotes.

Bacteria

one of the prokaryotic domains of life, more diverse than archaeans.

Binomial nomenclature

agreed upon system for naming organisms consisting of genus and species.

Class

a subdivision of a phylum, a class is composed of one or more orders of organism.

Domains

one of the three major categories of life: archaea, bacteria, and eukarya.

Eukaryotes

one of the three domains of life, cells are compartmentalized.

Family

a subdivision of an order: composed of one or more genera.

Genus

a subdivision of a family: composed of one or more species.

Kingdom

a taxonomic group that contains one or more phyla.

Order

a subdivision of a class, composed of one or more families of organism.

Phylum

a subdivision of a kingdom, composed of one or more classes of organism.

Species

a group of organisms in the same genus that are able to interbreed to produce fertile offspring.

Taxon

a group of species which shares and evolutionary relationship.

Taxonomy

the science of classification.

Viruses

non-living biological entities that have infectious properties - non-living pathogens.

dichotomous key

series of paired opposing statements which guide the user to the identity (or allows the classification) of an item or organism.

Bryophytes

mosses, liverworts and hornworts --- a group of non-flowering plants, typically 1-10 cm tall, non-vascular

Vascular tissue

which transports water and sugars throughout the plant.

Rhizoids

small root-like structures that help bryophytes to attach to the soil

Xylem

type of vascular tissue composed of non-living cells that transport water.

Phloem

type of vascular tissue that transports sugars throughout the plant.

Filicinophytes

Ferns and horsetails. They have shallow roots, their leaves develop in fronds, and they have a primitive vascular system which contains both xylem and phloem for transport of water and sugars respectively.

Coniferophytes

commonly known as conifers, are members of the Phylum Coniferophyta. They are gymnosperms, which means that their seeds are not enclosed in an ovary. They are cone-bearing seed trees with vascular tissue.

Angiospermophytes

flowering plants with vascular tissue and developed roots, stems and leaves, which vary in their structure. Can be classified as monocotyledons or dicotyledons

Porifera

sponges. They have bodies full of pores and channels allowing water to circulate. (Think PORES)

Cnidaria

hydras, jellyfish, corals and sea anemones. They have a mouth, but no anus as their digestive system. When feeding they use a single opening into a body cavity where digestion and waste disposal occurs

Platyhelminthes

flatworms with a simple digestive system similar to that of the cnidarians. (Think FLAT like a PLATE)

Annelida

segmented worms and leeches. Are divided into ringed segments with some specialisation of segments. (Think ANNEAU (means RING in French))

Mollusca

very large phylum with over 85 000 species. Snails, slugs, octopus, oysters and mussels all belong to this group

Arthropoda

largest animal phylum including insects, crustaceans, spiders, scorpions and more. Are characterised by their jointed appendages (legs) and segmented bodies.

Chordata

animals that possess a notochord, which is a cartilaginous rod that supports the nerve cord. They also have a hollow dorsal nerve cord. The phylum includes mammals, fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, sea squirts and lancelets

Vertebrates

subphylum of chordata and are subdivided into seven classes. Characterised by having a vertebral column or backbone which supports the spinal cord. 5 types : fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

Mammalia

skin covered in hair or fur
skin also has sweat glands
habitat on land and in water
warm-blooded
breathing through lungs

Aves (Birds)

skin covered in feathers, which are waterproof and insulate the body
habitat on land
most species can fly and some can also swim
warm-blooded and lay eggs
breathing through lungs

Reptilia

skin is dry and has scales
habitat on land
cold-blooded and most species lay eggs
breathing through lungs
homodont are sharp and cone-shaped

Amphibia

skin is exposed and moist
habitat on land and in water
cold-blooded and lay eggs
no external ears

Fish (Osteichthyes, Chondrichthyes, Agnatha)

covered in slimy scales
habitat in fresh or sea water, with fins and tails adapted to swimming and balancing
cold-blooded and lay eggs
breathing through gills