​Diversity in Living Organisms  

Ø Bio diversity: Bio + Diversity (Lift + Variation)

Variety of life forms in a particular region including all the flora and fauna is called bio diversity.

Ø Diversity is created when diverse life forms shares the environment and are affected by each
other and as a result, a stable community of different species come in to existence.

Ø Classification : Process of identification, distinction among organisms and placing them in to

groups that reflect their most significant characters and relationships is called biological
classification.
• Advantages of classification:
• It makes the study of different organisms very convenient.
• It facilitates identification of organisms.
• It shows relationships among various groups of organisms.
• It shows evolutionary trends in different organisms.
Nomenclature: The process of assigning scientific names to organisms is called nomenclature.
Advantages of nomenclature
Animals and plants have common names which could be misleading for a person who is
studying those organisms and as one organism has multiple names in different languages, to
avoid this confusion the organisms are given scientific names which are same all around the
world.

Ø Classification is done by naming the sub groups at different levels in a fixed pattern. Kingdom
Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species

Five Kingdom Classification

The traits used to place the organisms in five kingdom classification are
• Kind of cells that make the organism. Example prokaryote or eukoryote
• Number of cells that make the organism. Example Unicellular and Muticellular
• The methods by which organisms make food. Example Autotrophs and Heterotrophs.

Various groups of five kingdom classification

1) MONERA
• Organisms do not have well defined nucleus
• Mostly are unicellular.
• Mode of nutrition can be autotrophic (Example, Algae which has chlorophyll present in it) Or it
can be
heterotrophic.
• Example : Bacteria, Blue/Green Algae.

2) PROTISTA
• These are unicellular Eurokaryotes. Some have flagella present in them.
• Mode of nutrition is autotrophic or heterotrophic.
• Examples : Protozoans, Diatoms, Amoeba

3) FUNGI
• They are Eurokaryotic organisms.
• Are saprophytic in nutrition as they feed on dead and decaying organisms.
• Have cell walls made of chitin.

• Some fungi also have mutually dependent relationship in which they live in association with
algae and the mode of nutrition is symbiotic.
• Example: Yeast and Mushroom

4) PLANTAE

1) Thallophyta :
§ These plants are commonly called algae.
§ They do not have plant like divisions like stem and branches § Example: Spirogyra

2) Bryophyta:
§ They are called amphibians of plant kingdom.
§ They have stem and leaf like structure but no roots.
§ Instead of roots they have rhizoids for conduction of water.
§ Example: Moss
§ They do not have vascular bundles

3) Pteridophyta:
§ Plants body is differentiated in to roots, steam and leaves
§ Vascular tissue is present for conduction.
§ Reproduce by spores
§ Example : Fern
§ This group is further classified in to two types on the basis of presence of seeds.
a) Gymnosperms
§ Plants of this group bears naked seeds
§ Plants are perennial, evergreen and woody. § Example : Pine and deodar
b) Angiosperms
§ Seeds develop inside an organ which is modified to become a fruit.
§ These are also called flowering plants.
§ Can be categorised on the basis of presence of seed leaves (Cotyledons).
a) Monocots : Plants with seeds having one cotyledon. Example: Rice, Maize
b) Dicots: Plants with seeds having two cotyledons. Example: Gram and Pea.
NOTE : Function of cotyledon in to provide food to germinating seeds. 5) ANIMALIA
These are Eukaroytic multicellular organisms and can be further classified.
1) PORIFRA
§ These organisms have pores on their body.
§ They are non motile and are attached to the surface. § Body is covered by hard outside layer
or skeleton. § Mainly found in marine habitats.
§ Example: Sycon, Sponges.
2) COELENTERATA
§ They live in water and body shows differentiation.
§ Body is made up of two layers of cells.
§ Example: Hydra and Sea anemone.
3) PLATYHELMINTHES
§ Body is bilaterally symmetrical.
§ It is triploblastic (there are three layers of cells).
§ No coelom present.
§ Body is flattened and the organisms are also called flat worms.
§ Organisms can be free living (Planaria) or Parasitic (Liverflukes). 4) NEMATODA

§ Body is bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic. § Body is cylindrical

§ Have a pseudocoelom.
§ Are parasitic worms causing various diseases.
§ Example : Round worm and Pin worms.
5) ANNELIDA
§ Body is bilaterally symmetrical and triploblastic.
§ Have a true body cavity.
§ Body is segmented
§ Found in fresh water, marine water as well as land. § Example: Earth worm, leeches
6) ARTHOPODES
§ It is the largest group of animals
§ Body is bilaterally symmetrical and segmented.
§ Have open circulatory system.
§ Coelomic cavity is filled with blood.
§ Have jointed legs
§ Example: Butterflies., Prawns, Houseflies.
7) MOLLUSCA
§ Bilaterally symmetrical but coelomic cavity is reduced with very little segmentation.
§ Have open circulatory system.
§ Have a foot that is used for moving forward
§ Example: Snails and Mussels
8) ECHINODERMATA
§ These are spiny skinned organisms.
§ Free living and marine.
§ They have a water driven tube system which they use for moving around.
§ Skeleton is a hard calcium carbonate structure.
§ Example : Starfish
9) PROTCHORDATA
§ Bilaterally symmetrical triploblastic.
§ Have a special rod like structure that runs along the back of the animal called notochord. §
Example: Blanoglossus, Herdmania
10) VERTEBRAETA
§ They have a true vertebrae column and an internal skeleton.
§ Are Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblasitc, coelomic and segmented.
§ Can be grouped in 5 classes
a) PISCES
§ They are aquatic animals. Skin is covered with scales.
§ Have gills to breathe.
§ Body is streamlined which enables them to swim.
§ Cold blooded
§ Heart with two chambers
§ Lay eggs
§ Some fish have skeletons made of cartilage. Example: Shark and some have skeleton made
of bone and cartilage.
Example : Rohu and Tuna.
b) AMBPHIBIANS
§ Can live on land and water.
§ Do not have scales. Heart is three chambered.
§ Body is slimy. Respiration occurs through skin or gills or lungs.
§ Lay eggs.
§ Example: Frogs, Toad.
c) REPTILIA.
§ Animals are cold blooded, breathe through lungs.
§ They have three chambered hearts but crocodile have four chambered hearts.

§ Lay eggs. Examples : Snakes and Turtles.

d) AVES
§ They are warm blooded. Have four chambered heart. § Lay eggs and the body is covered by
feathers.
§ Breathe through lungs.
§ All birds fall in this category.
e) MAMMALS
§ They are warm blooded with four chambered heart.
§ They have mammary glands for the production of milk.
§ Skin has hair as well as sweat and oil glands.
§ Give birth to their young ones. Example: Humans, Rat, Cat, Dog.