Chapter 1: Classification

Aristotle's System

  • Artistotle was a great observer of nature. He formally described and classified hundreds of species for the ancient greeeks. The system he established was based on obvious and visable physical features.
  • He classified things as either plants (which were green and did not move) of animals (which did move.) He further classified animals by where they lived (land, sea, and air.)
  • It was a simple system but he was quick to admit it. - "Mine is the first step and therefore a small one, though worked out with much thought and hard labor. You, my readers or hearers of my lectures, if you think I have done as much as can fairly be expected of an initial start. . . will acknowledge what I have achieved and will pardon what I have left for others to accomplish."
  • To read more, or to see the source of this quote and image... click here

The Linean System

  • Swedish naturalist Carolus Linnaeus established clear rules for a two-name system called the binomial system of nomenclature. His Systema Naturae (1735), established the standard of taxonomy that is still in use today. 
  • Linneaus, whose real name was Carl Linne, was obsessed with classifying and organizing species. Nonetheless his obsesion, and indeed his genius has survived the test of time.
  • In his system, similar organisms are grouped into a genus, and each is given a two-word Latin name.  The first word of this name is the genus name, and the second word describes the organism, describes where its from, or it identifies the person who discovered it.  This system circumvents the problem of species with multiple common names in multiple languages. Scientists could not refer to each species by one specific latin name. To read more about the life and work of Linnaeus... click here

Two examples of the Linean System of Classification                       

Homo sapiens Pacific White-Sided Dolphin
Common name - humans
(image from www.thesimpsons.com)		 Common name - pacific white-sided dolphin
(image from: www.mbayaq.org)
KINGDOM - Animalia KINGDOM - Animalia
PHYLUM - Chordata PHYLUM - Chordata
CLASS - Mammalia CLASS - Mammalia
ORDER - Primates ORDER - Cetacea
FAMILY - Hominidae FAMILY - Delphinidae
GENUS - Homo GENUS - Lagenorynchus
SPECIES - Homo sapiens SPECIES - Lagenorynchus obliquidens

 

Three Domains

Biological classification is now a precisise science based on genetic analysis and evolutionanary history. Nonetheless, nature is never as simple as we would like it to be and some species or groups are very difficult to place in just one group as we have defined them. Hense, biological classification is an ongoing and evolving science. Currently we classify all living things into three large domains based on the structures of their cells and six kingdoms based on other features. It is likely that the near future will bring a reclassification of species into eight or nine kingdoms .
  • Prokaryota (bacteria) - small, singled celled, no organelles
  • Archaea (extreame bacteria) - sometimes called extreamophiles, they seam to live where nothing else can, extreame hot or cold, highly acidic or basic conditions, very simple cells with unique biochemistry.
  • Eukaryota - includes all organisms whose cells have a nucleus 

Six Kingdoms 

Kingdom Monera [10,000 species]:

  • Unicellular and colonial--including the true bacteria (eubacteria) and cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
  • No organelles or nucleus
  • Can be Autotrophs (photosynthetic) or heterotrophs (eaters)
  • More information on Monera

Kigdom Archaea [unknown number]

  • Unicellular
  • No organelles or nucleus
  • they have a distinctively different biochemistry that makes them different from Monera
  • Initially, Archaea were seen as extreme that lived in harsh environments, such as hot springs and salt lakes, but they have since been found in a broad range of habitats, such as soils, oceans, and marshlands.
  • More information on Archea

Kingdom Fungi [100,000 species]:

  • Dominated by a haploid life cycle
  • multicellular
  • most have cell walls containing chiton
  • generally heterotrophic although many could be considered parasitic
  • Includes yeasts, mushrooms, molds, lichens, and a host of other organisms
  • More information on Fugi

Kingdom Plantae [250,000 species]: 

  • An alternation of haploid and diploid life cycles
  • mostly autotrophic
  • Non-mobile
  • All multicellular with specialized tissues
  • All have cell walls containing cellulose
  • Not all green.  Plants may use a variety of pigments to absorb the sun’s rays
  • more information on Plantae

Kingdom Animalia [1,000,000 species]: 

Classification In Action

Procedure
  1. On paper or using inspiration* you will create a one page classification for your favorite species.
  2. Using Wikipedia or Animal Diversity Web, select one organism, find out its scientific name.  
  3. Next identify this organisms genus, family, class, order, phylum, and kingdom.  
  4. Include other organisms (use both common and scientific names) that belong to each of the groups from number 2. Use 2 in the genus, 3 in the family, 4 in the order, 5 in the class, 6 in the phylum, and 7 in the kingdom.   If there are no other members of the genus or family shift up, but you should still have a total of 27 related species.
  5. At least one species from each level of classification should be accompanied by a picture or drawing. 
  6. All of these species should be visually, and taxonomically organized in a way that is aesthetically pleasing and easy to follow.

Example