Understanding Taxonomy
Academic Biology
The 6 Kingdoms
Organisms are placed
into kingdoms based
on their type of cells,
their ability to make
food and the number
of cells in their bodies
Prokaryotes
organisms whose cells lack a
nucleus
 Nucleus—dense area in a
cell that contains nucleic acids,
the chemical instructions that
direct the cell’s activities.
Nucleic acids are scattered
throughout the cell. Bacteria.
Ecological
Importance of
Prokaryotes
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Decomposition
Nitrogen fixation
Mutualistic relationships
Parasitic relationships
Commercial uses
Treponema
pallidum,
a spiral-shaped
bacteria which
causes Syphilis in
humans
Eukaryotes
organisms with cells
that contain nuclei.
Their chemical
instructions are in the
nucleus.
Introduction to
Phylogenetic Kingdoms
• Monera (Eubacteria and Archaebacteria)
Prokaryotes.
• Protistia – Eukaryotes, diverse, not fungi,
plants, or animals
• Fungi – Eukaryotes, multicellular (except
yeasts)
• Plantae – Eukaryotes, multicellular, nonmotile, autotrophic, cell wall containing
cellulose
• Animalia – Eukaryotes, multicellular,
motile, heterotrophic, no cell wall
Kingdoms and Domains
The three-domain system
Bacteria
Archaea
Eukarya
The six-kingdom system
Bacteria
Archaea
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
The traditional five-kingdom system
Monera
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
Kingdom Monera
The traditional five-kingdom system
Monera
The six-kingdom system
Eubacteria
Archaea
The Kingdom
Monera Eubacteria
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Common name: Bacteria
Unicellular prokaryotes
Have cell wall
Basic shapes are cocci, bacilli,
spirilla
Streptococcus mutans
(can cause endocarditis
and dental caries)
Bacillus anthracis
(spores can live in soil
for years)
Eubacteria
a. Can be found in yogurt
b. Unicellular bacteria
c. Autotrophic or
heterotrophic
d. Most are helpful, some
cause things
like strep throat
Bacteria which
causes strep throat
Kingdom Archaebacteria
means “ancient bacteria”
a. Unicellular bacteria
b. Autotrophic or heterotrophic
c. Live in places without O2
(ocean floor, salty water, hot
springs, and your intestines!)
d. Prokaryotes
The Kingdom Protista
Slime molds
b. Autotrophic or heterotrophic
c. Most unicellular
d. Some multicellular,
sea weed
e. Eukaryotes
A classification problem
• Some move with flagella,
pseudopods or cilia
• Animal-like, plant-like and funguslike groups
Entamoeba
histolytica
Ecological Importance
• Important foundation in food
chain.
• Produce a lot of Oxygen
• Decomposition
• Symbiotic relationships
– Mutualistic
– Parasitic
• Medicinal and Industrial Uses
Euglena is both
autotrophic
and heterotrophic
The Kingdom Fungi
Mushrooms, molds and mildew
b. Most are Multicellular
eukaryotes
c. Yeast is unicellular eukaryotes
d. Most found on land, a few in
fresh water
e. Heterotrophs—feed on
decaying organisms
Puffball
Drops of rain trigger
the release of spores
Pholiota spp
Degrades wood
very quickly
Ecological Importance
• Decomposers
• Symbiotic
– Parasitic
• On plants
• On animals
– Mutualistic
• Lichens
• Mycorrhizae
Epidermop
hyton
floccosum,
fungi
causing
athlete’s
foot
The Kingdom Plantae
Dandelions, mosses, tomatoes
b. Multicellular eukaryotes
c. Autotrophs
d. Some produce flowers some
do not.
e. Can be small or grow tall like
a sequoia tree
Sunflowers
in
Fargo,
North
Dakota
Major Groups of Plants
• Three traditional groupings:
– Bryophytes—nonvascular
plants
– Tracheophytes — vascular,
– Seed plants
• Gymnosperms
• Angiosperms
Ginkgo biloba
Ginkgos are often
very long-lived.
Some specimens
are thought to be
more than 3,500
years old.
Importance of Plants to
Humans
• Food source – Wheat, grains,
fruits, vegetables
• Medicine – Aspirin, cancer
treatments, stimulants
• Industry – Agriculture, wood
products, cotton
Sugarcane
The Kingdom Animalia
Dogs, fleas, rabbits, Human,
turtles mosquitoes…
• Multicellular eukaryotes.
• Heterotrophs
Baby
Chicks
Invertebrates and
Vertebrates
• Invertebrates
– 97% of the Animal Kingdom
– Absence of backbone
– Includes sponges, cnidarians,
mollusks, worms, arthropods,
and echinoderms
• Vertebrates
– Internal skeleton (bone or
cartilage)
– Includes fish, amphibians,
reptiles, birds, and mammals
Asian ladybeetle
Harmonia
axyridis
Notice the
“false” white
eye markings
behind the head.
Invertebrate Animals
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Sponges
Cnidarians
Worms
Mollusks
Arthropods
Echinoderms
Colony of sponges
Chambered Nautilus
Invertebrate Animals
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Sponges
Cnidarians
Worms
Mollusks
Arthropods
Echinoderms
Hymenoptera Dialictus
zephrum
Txodes scapularis
Deer tick
Vertebrate Animals
• Chordates
• Fish
– Agnatha (jawless fish/lamprey)
– Chondrichthyes (sharks, skates, rays)
– Osteichthyes (bass, tuna, salmon)
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Amphibians
Reptiles
Birds
Mammals
Ardea herodias
Great Grey
Heron
Name 6 Kingdoms
Name 6 Kingdoms
The six-kingdom system
Bacteria
Archaea
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
What is a prokaryote?
Prokaryotes
organisms whose cells lack a nucleus
 Nucleus—dense area in a cell that
contains nucleic acids, the chemical
instructions that direct the cell’s activities.
Nucleic acids are scattered throughout the
cell. Bacteria.
Which 2 kingdoms only have
prokaryotes?
Kingdom Monera
The traditional five-kingdom system
Monera
The six-kingdom system
Eubacteria
Archaea
Which kingdoms include only
heterotrophic organisms?
Which kingdoms include only
heterotrophic organisms?
• Fungi and animalia