INTRODUCTION
VOCABULARY
The Galapagos Islands are home to
some of the most unusual organisms
on Earth, many of which we hope to
meet on our trip. To find order in the
tremendous diversity of life on Earth,
the science of taxonomy, or the
ordered classification of organisms,
was developed. In 1753, Carl von
Linnaeus introduced a two-word
naming system known as binomial
nomenclature, which we continue to
use today.
Use the glossary to define any
unfamiliar terms:
MATERIALS
PROCEDURE
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printouts of photographs below
scissors
glue or tape
3 x 5 index cards
pen
CRITICAL THINKING QUESTIONS
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On what basis did you initially
separate organisms?
After the initial grouping, what
characteristics did you use as
distinguishing factors?
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binomial nomenclature
class
family
Five Kingdom System
genus
order
phylum
species
species diversity
species relatedness
taxonomy
In this activity, you will be creating
your own classification system.
1. Print out a copy of the various
organisms pictured below.
2. Cut out each organism and
tape or glue the picture to a 3 x
5 index card.
3. Separate the organisms into
two groups that are similar in
some way.
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Specify the kingdoms that
were noted in your
separations.
4. Identify the subdivisions with a
category name and indicate
the name on the bottom of
each card.
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In terms of shared
characteristics, what happens
as you make more
subdivisions?
5. Now separate each group into
two subdivisions of species
that have more specific like
characteristics.
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What phyla were represented
in your groupings?
6. Continue to make subdivisions
until each organism is in a
category by itself.
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What classes were
represented in your
groupings?
Use this glossary to help you understand some of the scientific terms found throughout
the Destination: Galapagos Islands website.
abiotic: pertaining to those portions of an ecosystem that are non-living, such as
temperature, light, soil, water, etc.
adaptation: a genetically controlled characteristic (behavioral, structural or
physiological) that enhances survival and ability to reproduce among members of a
population (Read more about Natural Selection)
adaptive radiation: an evolutionary pattern in which related species become dissimilar
or less alike
archipelago: a large group of islands
autotroph: see producer
binomial nomenclature: a classification system developed by Carl von Linnaeus in
which all organisms are assigned a specific two-word name (e.g., humans are Homo
sapiens)
biochemical homologies: similarities in blood, proteins and DNA and RNA sequences
that indicate species relatedness; the greater the similarities, the more closely related
two organisms are thought to be
biological community: all the populations of different species occupying a single
ecosystem
biotic: pertaining to, produced, or influenced by living organisms, especially as related
to an ecosystem
calcium: (Ca); a macronutrient that makes up approximately 3% of the earth's crust
and that is found in most plants and animals; calcium is the most abundant mineral
present in the human body and is primarily responsible for building strong bones and
teeth
caldera: a large crater formed by a volcanic explosion
carnivore: an organism that consumes only animals
class: a taxonomic group subordinate to phylum; group of similar orders
climate: the weather conditions, such as temperature, precipitation and wind, normally
experienced by a particular region
conservation: the protection of natural resources, such as air, soil, water, vegetation
and wildlife
consumer: also known as a heterotroph, an organism that cannot make its own food
and must eat producers or other consumers
convergent evolution: process by which unrelated species become more similar in
order to survive in similar environmental conditions
detrivore: an organism that consumes dead and decaying organisms
dissolved oxygen: pure oxygen found in a body of water that may safely be used by
marine organisms; the concentration of dissolved oxygen is largely determined by
water temperature, salinity level and the amount of oxygen-consuming pollutants in the
water
divergent evolution: process by which related species become less similar in order to
survive in different environmental conditions
ecology: the study of the interactions of living organisms with one another and their
environment
ecosystem: an ecological community that, together with its environment, functions as a
unit
El Nino: a periodic warming of Pacific Ocean currents that occurs when changes in
atmospheric pressure prevent cold water from rising to the surface
endemic: native or confined to a particular region
environment: the conditions that surround an organism and influence its growth,
development and survival
Equator: the imaginary circle around the center of the Earth that divides the planet into
the Northern and Southern Hemispheres
evolution: the theories concerning the processes of biological and organic change in
organisms such that descendants differ from their ancestors; over time, species may
change in structure and function
extinct: no longer existing or living
family: a taxonomic group subordinate to order; group of similar genera
fauna: a group of animals that live in a particular region
Five Kingdom System: a taxonomic classification system in which organisms are
grouped into one of five kingdoms and are then further subdivided into increasingly
specific groupings (phylum, class, order,family, genus and, finally, species)
flora: a group of plants that live in a particular region
food chain: the sequence of who eats whom within an ecosystem
food web: a complex feeding network made up of many different food chains
genus: a taxonomic group subordinate to family; group of similar species
habitat: the part of an ecosystem in which an organism lives
harvesting: the process of gathering a crop
heterotroph: see consumer
herbivore: an organism that consumes only plants
homologous: description for physical features that are formed in similar ways during
embryonic development and that have a similar structure (e.g., the flipper of a whale,
the arm of a human and the wing of a bat are all homologous organs)
Humboldt Current: a cold Pacific Ocean current that flows north from Antarctica to the
western coast of South America (also known as the Peru Current)
hydrologic cycle: the cycle by which the water on Earth is constantly recycled and
purified through the processes of evaporation, transpiration (the evaporation of water
from the leaves of plants), precipitation, condensation, percolation and runoff
hydrosphere: a huge heat reservoir made up of all Earth's water (including ice and
glaciers) that stores, absorbs and circulates the radiant energy striking the Earth
immutable: unable to change
introduced species: organisms that are not native to an area but have been
accidentally or purposefully brought to the area by humans
law of tolerance: the law that states that the existence, abundance and distribution of
species depends on the tolerance level of each species to physical and chemical
factors
limiting factor: any abiotic factor that limits or prevents the growth of a population
macronutrient: an element required by a living organism in very large quantities
magnesium: (Mg); a macronutrient used by the green pigment of plants (chlorophyll) to
trap sunlight and convert it to usable energy; magnesium is also found in the bones,
blood, cells and tissues of most animals
natural selection: the process by which those organisms that are best suited for their
environment survive and reproduce (Read more about Natural Selection)
nitrogen: (N); a macronutrient that makes up 78% of the Earth's soil and is involved in
virtually all biochemical processes that sustain plant and animal life
nitrogen-fixation: the conversion of unusable, free nitrogen to other forms -- such as
nitrates or ammonia -- for utilization by plant tissues
omnivore: an organism that consumes both plants and animals
order: a taxonomic group subordinate to class; group of similar families
pH: the relative concentration of positive hydrogen ions (H+) and negative hydroxyl
ions (OH-) in a solution; solutions with equal concentrations of these ions are neutral,
while solutions with more hydrogen ions areacidic and solutions with more hydroxyl
ions arealkaline
phosphorus: (P); a macronutrient found in soil that is essential for all animals and
plants; phosphorus is an essential component of nucleic acids, which are present in all
living systems
phylum: a taxonomic group of similar classes
Pliocene era: the period of geologic time marked by the appearance of most modern
animals (about two to seven million years ago)
poaching: illegally fishing or hunting in a protected area
population: a group of interbreeding organisms that live in a particular location;
population density is the number of individuals per unit of space
potassium: (K); a macronutrient found in soil that plays a vital role in the function of all
plants, including the production of amino acids, which are utilized in protein synthesis,
and the formation of chlorophyll
predator: an animal that actively seeks out other animals as a source of food
producer: also known as an autotroph, an organism that makes its own food, as green
plants do
salinity: the amount of various salts in a given volume of water
shield volcano: a volcano with a gentle slope and regular shape that is formed by
slow-flowing, basaltic (low in water content) magma
speciation: the formation of new species
species diversity: the variety of different organisms in a given area
species relatedness: the degree of similarity in the structure of organisms, which
indicates common ancestry
species: a group of similar organisms capable of mating and producing fertile offspring
sulfur: a macronutrient concentrated in amino acids that promotes the detoxification
and excretion of harmful substances; sulfur is found in virtually every cell of the human
body, especially in hair, nails and skin
taxonomy: the science of classifying organisms into groups based on similar
characteristics
temperature: the degree of hotness or coldness; one of the most important physical
factors in the environment of any organism
trophic level: the feeding level to which every organism in an ecosystem is assigned,
depending on whether it is a producer or consumer and on which type of consumer it is