Essay
By: Brian Andris
Scientists use the system of classification to keep millions of animals
organized. It determines what type of genus, order, class, family, phylum, and
species each organism belongs to. Another use of classification is to determine if
an organism belongs to any of the six kingdoms, which include animal, plant,
fungi, protist, eubacteria, and archaebacterial kingdoms. Biologists all around the
world use this system. It is a great way to keep track of living organisms.
The animal kingdom contains 800,000 species and they are all eukaryotic
and heterotrophic multicellular organisms. All of the organisms are organized into
36 phyla some of these include porifera, arthropods, mollusks and chordates.
These each contain very unique animals. Some of the animals in this phylum
even help with agriculture such as cows and turkey, which provide food for
humans. These animals are extremely important towards the survival of the
human race.
The plant kingdom has very unique characteristics, which include their cell
wall and large vacuole. One characteristic that stands out about these eukaryotic
multicellular organisms is that they are autotrophic. They use a system called
photosynthesis, which allows them to create their own food. Another feature
about the plant kingdom is that each organism that belongs to it is organized into
12 phyla. The phyla are classified by how they reproduce, their size or stature,
and if they can circulate fluids. Some of these phyla are Byophyta and Allies and
Pteridophyta. In addition, plants such as the apple tree are very important for
food and oxygen. Without plants humans would be non-existent.
The fungi kingdom is composed of multicellular organisms. In addition,
penicillium helps to make medicine such as the penicillin, which is used to fight
many types of infections that are caused by bacteria. Some fungi may also help
plants grow and contribute to the initial stages of soil formation from rock. These
heterotrophic organisms have a cell wall and a very unique feature that helps
with feeding and growth called hyphae. The fungi kingdom contains 7 phyla.
Examples of these include ascomycota and basidiomycata, which are each
organized by sexual spores.
The Protista kingdom is very extraordinary. It is made up of mostly
unicellular eukaryotic organisms, which have features such as the cilia,
contractile vacuole and pseudopods. In addition, these organisms are asexual
which means there is usually a single parent. Protists are very important towards
our universe. This is because they are key decomposers and provide us with
food. Overall the kingdom is very unique.
The Eubacterial kingdom is eukaryotic. This means the organism does not
have a nucleus. In addition, it is one of the only three kingdoms that have
unicellular organisms. This unique organism is also only visible by light of a
microscope. Some features of this organism are that it has pili, which is Important
for transferring information and has the nucleoid, which contains DNA. The
eubacteria kingdom also has some unique shapes. Such as the sphere shaped
coccus and the spiral shaped spirilium. In addition, this organism impacts
agriculture by helping to make milk for humans.
The archaebacteria is known for living in extreme conditions such as very
hot temperatures. Another feature of this organism is that it’s unicellular and
prokaryotic. In addition, it has a capsule and a cell wall, which protects the
organism. This organism can also be both heterotrophic and autotrophic. This
organism provides humans with food such as yogurt and sauerkraut.
There are many types of symbiotic relationships such as mutualism,
parasitism and commensalism. One example of a symbiotic relationship is the
lichen, which consists of plants and protists. This mutualistic relationship is very
unique because they both use each other to survive in their environment.
Another symbiotic relationship is one that involves the animal and bacterial
kingdom. This mutualistic relationship consists of many of the bacteria living in
our large intestine. They feed on food in the gut and do not harm us, but
sometimes they may help humans.
Bibliography
http://users.rcn.com/jkimball.ma.ultranet/BiologyPages/S/Symbiosis.html
wiki.answers.com/a/are_protists_used_for_medicine
www.biologycorner.com/bio1/protista.html
blue.utb.edu/rlnash/fall2006/notes/kingdom%20plantae.html
www.slideshare.net/argoscorp/kingdom-animalia
Part Two
The most interesting phylum to me is the mollusk phylum. This phylum
contains animals with soft bodies, a digestive system, and a circulatory system.
Some adaptations include the operculum that most univalves have for protection.
Another adaptation could be the ink sac used by cephalopods to escape
predators.
If I had to choose favorite animal in this kingdom it would be octopus. Most
octopi have no internal or external skeleton, allowing them to squeeze through
tight places. An octopus has a hard beak, with its mouth at the center point of the
arms. And for defense against predators, they hide, flee quickly, expel ink, or use
color-changing camouflage.
Not much is known about octopi but we know that they are predators.
Most octopi eat prey such as eels, sharks, turtles, groupers and barracuda.
By eating these species of animals the octopus may be controlling some
types of species from overpopulating the sea.
Kingdom- Animalia
Phylum- Mollusk
Class- Cephalopoda
Order- Octopoda
Family- Octopodidae
Genus- Enteroctopus
Species- Grimpoteuthis
Bibliography
http://www.oceaninn.com/the-nature-preserve/mollusks/
http://oceanica.cofc.edu/shellguide/adaptations.pdf
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR0215242/octopi.htm
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_are_some_characteristics_of_an_octopus
http://www.seaworld.org/animal-info/animalbytes/animalia/eumetazoa/coelomates/protostomes/mollusca/octopus.pdf
http://everythingoctopus.blogspot.com/2009/02/species-grimpoteuthis-ordumbo-octopus.html
http://marinebio.org/species.asp?id=403