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Biodiversity and Classification NL
Biodiversity and Classification NL
What is Biodiversity???
Biological diversity
Simply means the
diversity, or variety, of
plants and animals and
other living things in a
particular area or region
Also means the number, or
abundance of different
species living within a
particular region
Okay, So Why Is It Important?
Everything that lives in an ecosystem is part of the web
of life, including humans
Each species of vegetation and each creature has a place
on the earth and plays a vital role in the circle of life
Plant, animal, and insect species interact and depend
upon one another for what each offers, such as food,
shelter, oxygen, and soil enrichment
"It is reckless to suppose that biodiversity can be
diminished indefinitely without threatening humanity
itself." -Edward O. Wilson (Father of Biodiversity)
Early Classification
To study the diversity of life, biologists use a classification system to
name organisms and group them in a logical manner.
The field of Biology that deals with classifying organisms is called
Taxonomy.
Carolus Linnaeus is the father of Modern Taxonomy (1700’s)
H ie r a r c h y
R a n k in g S y s t e m
K in g d o m P h y lu m C la s s O rd e r F a m ily G enus S p e c ie s
Binomial Nomenclature
Identifying organisms by their genus and species’ names
2 words
First letter of FIRST word is capital, First letter of
SECOND word is lowercase.
The word needs to be in italic or underlined
Latin Form of the word.
Ex: Homo sapiens, Acer rubrum, Canus lupus
Humans, Red Maple, Wolf
Binomial Nomenclature
Bacteria…ecological diverse
Free living soil organisms to deadly
parasites
Some need oxygen some do not need
oxygen.
Archaebacteria
Single Celled
Prokaryotic
Autotrophic and Heterotrophic
Cell walls do NOT contain
peptidogllycan
Ex: Methanogens, halophiles
Green- contain
chlorophyll
Make food by
photosynthesis
Ex: Algae. Moss,
Vascular Plants, Trees,
Flower, Etc
Animal Kingdom
Multi-Cellular
Cannot make their own
food
Most animals move
(sponge is sessile)
Vertebrates: (Backbone)
Ex: Fish, Frogs, Birds,
Snakes, and US!!
Invertebrates: (No
backbone) Ex: Sponges,
Jellyfish, Earthworm
A Mysterious Organism-Virus
Not sure which
classification to
put viruses
under
No cell parts
Chromosome-
like structures
Do not grow as
living things
A Mysterious Organism-Virus
Scrubland, regions of
dense shrubs along
coasts.
Between 30 and 40
degrees latitude.
Chaparral
Rainy winters, long
dry summers.
Maintained by
periodic fires.
Deer, birds, rodents,
snakes, etc.
Temperate Deciduous Forest
Precipitation ranges from
70 to 150 cm annually;
Rains year round
Cold to moderate winters
with hot summers
Fertile soils
Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Broad-leaved hardwood
trees that loose their
foliage
Ex: Deer, Bears, Oaks,
Maples, Salamanders
Temperate
Deciduous Forest
Tropical Rain
Forests
Most biologically diverse
Found near the equator
Warm, wet weather
dominated by lush plant
growth
Receives at least 200 cm
of precipitation annually
Dense, tangled vegetation
Tropical Rain Forest
Competition for light.
Soil is usually poor
due to rapid nutrient
recycling.
Animals are often tree
dwellers.
Ex. Sloths, Monkeys,
Bamboo
Tropical Rain Forest
Tropical
Rain Forest
AQUATIC BIOMES
75% of Earth is covered in water.
Divided into two categories freshwater and
marine
Marine Biomes: The water is salt water.
Oceans, sea, and some inland lakes contain
salt water.
Freshwater is confined to rivers, streams,
ponds and most lakes.
Marine
Oceans contain the largest
amount of biomass, or
living material, of any
biome on earth.
Many living organisms are
small they cannot even be
seen.
Ecologist study marine
biomes by separating them
into different zones.
Freshwater
Ponds, lake, rivers, etc are
also full of life but more
so around the shoreline
and in shallow areas.
Water temperature and
sunlight penetration are
factors that limits life in
freshwater biomes.
Freshwater
In the shallow waters you
will find plants such as
cattails and sedges.
These plants serve as food
and homes for tadpoles,
aquatic insects, worms,
crayfish, dragonflies
Minnows, bluegill, and
carp also live here.
Estuary
An estuary is a coastal
body of water, partially
surrounded by land, in
which freshwater and
saltwater mix.
It may extend many miles
inland.
Estuary