Taxonomy Worksheet:
Background:
Because of the immense amount of biological diversity on
Earth, naturalists have created various techniques for organizing
and classifying living organisms. The system currently used by
taxonomists is the Linnaean Taxonomic System, which breaks
down organisms into seven major divisions called taxa (singular:
taxon). The purpose of this activity is for you to create your own
classification system for organizing the life forms provided for
you.
Procedure:
1. Using the photo cards provided for your group, separate the organisms
into two groups. Groups should be creating by using the similarities found
among life forms (ex. Two legs vs. four legs). Identify the subdivisions with
a category name.
2. Now separate each group into two subdivisions of species that have more
specific like characteristics.
3. Continue to make subdivisions until you have created seven or eight
groups of organisms that have many similarities. Make sure to give each
of your groups a descriptive name representative of the organisms within
them.
Activity Questions:
1.
On what basis did you initially separate organisms?
2.
After the initial grouping, what characteristics did you use as distinguishing
factors?
3.
Specify the kingdoms that were noted in your separations.
4.
In terms of shared characteristics, what happens as you make more
subdivisions?
5.
How did your classification compare to the Linnaean Taxonomic System?
Did you have many similarities? Many differences?
Key to Taxonomy Activity:
List of Organisms:
2 mammals (dolphin, lion)
2 birds (penguin, sparrow)
2 fish (shark, goldfish)
1 insect (ladybug)
1 crustacean (crab)
1 worm (earthworm)
1 mollusk (octopus)
2 fungi (mushroom, mold)
1 fern
1 bryophyte
2 angiosperms (sunflower, lily)
Correct divisions: (LTS)
1st division:
Mobile: all animals
Immobile: plants and fungi
2nd division:
Vertebrates
Invertebrates
Plants
Fungi
3rd division:
warm-blooded animals
cold-blooded animals
inverts w/ exoskeleton (ecdysozoans)
inverts w/out exoskeleton (lophotrocozoans)
fungi
plants with flowers (angiosperms)
plants without flowers