Essential Biology 5.

5: Classification

Sources to use: Allot text (p205-210), Click4Biology, Class presentations, The Habitable Planet
(http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/)

1. Define taxonomy.
Taxonomy is how scientists identify and classify organisms based on their characteristics.

2. In the table below, list the seven levels in the hierarchy of taxa and design an acronym to help
you remember them. Using two examples from different kingdoms give all seven levels.

Hierarchical level ACRONYM PLANT Example: ANIMAL Example:

Most Kingdom Kgdm Plantae Animalia
diverse
Phm
Phylum Angiosperms Chordata

Class Cls Liliopsida Mammalia

Order Ord Asparagales Primates

Family Fam Hycinthaceae Hominidae

Genus Gen Hycinthoides Homo

Most Spes
species Non-scripta Sapiens
Specific

3. Define species.
Species are the most specific taxon when classifying organisms. They are the second
word of the binomial nomenclature scientific name for an organism.

4. In the space below, explain how the Linnean binomial system of nomenclature works, paying
attention to formatting conventions.
 Binomial nomenclature consists of two words, the genus name and the species name.
 The genus name begins with a capital letter and the species name begins with a common
letter.
 In typed or printed text, the binomial is in italics.
 The earliest published name for a species, from 1753 onwards, is the correct one.

Eschericia coli

E. coli

Stephen Taylor http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com

Essential Biology 5.5: Classification

Homo sapiens

H. Sapiens

5. Distinguish between heterotrophy and autotrophy. Which feeding method is represented by the
Kingdom Plantae and which by the Kingdom Animalia?

Heterotrophy is when organisms consume other organisms for food, while autotrophy is
when organisms make their own food. The Kingdom Plantae is represented by autotrophy and the
Kingdom Animalia is represented by heterotrophy

6. Distinguish between the following phyla of plants, using external characteristics. Give examples.

BryophytesThey
do not
reproduce
have roots,
by20
but
cmmay
have simplespreading
stems andtheir
leaves.
spores
which make new plants.

Filicinophytes
Sporangia
have roots,
contain
stems
15 and
m
leaves. reproductive spores.

Zygotes
Coniferophytes are roots,
have formed stems
through the
6 cmand
fusion of male and female
leaves.
gametes

Angiospermophytes
Zygotes are
have
formed1 through
roots,mstems
and leaves. the fusion of male and
female zygotes.

Stephen Taylor http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com

Essential Biology 5.5: Classification

7. Have a go at using a dichotomous key here:

http://www.scenicoregon.com/webanic/pages/animals.html
Take the opportunity to build your vocabulary while completing this task.
Think of an animal, answer the questions and work through the classification.

8. Distinguish between the following phyla of animals, using external recognition features and
giving examples. Check your answers here: http://www.scenicoregon.com/webanic/pages/map.html

No Pores draw in water None Vary varied

for filter feeding
symmetry shapes.

Radial It feeds with its None Tentacles arranged in

the ring of the mouth.
symmetry mouth

Bilateral It absorbs food None Flat and thin bodies

through the skin in the shape of a
ribbon.

Bilateral Passes soil Ring-shaped, Bodies made up of many

often with ring-shaped segments,
through the gut often with bristles.
bristles.

Bilateral Hard rasping None A fold in the body wall

called the mantle
radula secretes the shell.

Segmented bodies and legs

Bilateral Uses pincers to tear Joints or other appendages with
off what they eat.
between joints between the sections.

sections of

Stephen Taylor http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com

Essential Biology 5.5: Classification

9. Distinguish between these terms:

Radial symmetry vs Bilateral symmetry vs Asymmetrical

Radial symmetry is when the skeleton of the animal is a circular pattern, bilateral symmetry is
when one half of the skeleton is a mirrored copy of the other half of the skeleton,

Motile vs Sessile

Motile organisms can move about and sessile organisms cannot move.

10. Design and apply a dichotomous key to distinguish between these Queensland shark species:

Stephen Taylor http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com

Essential Biology 5.5: Classification

11. Look at the species names for the sharks in the chart.
a. Which of the following pairs is most closely related?
A. Black Tip Reef Shark and White Shark
B. Grey Reef Shark and Shortfin Mako
C. Grey Reef Shark and Winghead
D. Creek Whaler and Black Tip Reef Shark

b. Explain your answer to a.

I chose the Creek Whaler and Black Tip Reef Shark because they are both a member of
the same genus, Carcharhinus.

c. Which of the following is/are true for the Great Hammerhead and Scalloped
Hammerhead?
i. They are two subspecies of the same species

ii. They are two species in the same genus

iii. They are members of the same order

iv. They are from different phyla

A. i only
B. i and ii
C. ii and iii
D. iv only

d. Which of the following is/are true of all of the sharks in the chart?
i. They are members of the same species
ii. They are part of the same genus
iii. They are part of the same class
iv. They are part of the same kingdom
B. i only
C. i and ii
D. ii and iii
E. iii and iv

Stephen Taylor http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com

Essential Biology 5.5: Classification

Stephen Taylor http://sciencevideos.wordpress.com