Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
Sources to use: Allot text (p205-210), Click4Biology, Class presentations, The Habitable Planet
(http://www.learner.org/courses/envsci/)
1. Define taxonomy.
Taxonomy is how scientists define and classify organisms into groups and depending on their physical
similarities.
2. In the table below, list the seven levels in the hierarchy of taxa and design an acronym to help
you remember them. Using two examples from different kingdoms give all seven levels.
Most
diverse
Hierarchical level
ACRONYM
PLANT Example:
ANIMAL Example:
Kingdom
K.G.M
Plantae
Animalia
Phylum
P.L.M
Angiosperms
Chordata
Class
C.L.S
Liliopsida
mammalia
Order
O.D.R
Asparagales
Primate
Family
F.M.L
Hycinthaceae
Hominidae
Genus
G.N.S
Hycinthoides
Homo
Non-scripta
sapien
S.P.S
Most
species
Specific
3. Define species.
Species is a particular category of taxonomic classification that ranks below a genus or subgenus and
consisting of related organisms capable of interbreeding.
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
4. In the space below, explain how the Linnean binomial system of nomenclature works, paying
attention to formatting conventions.
Eschericia coli- The first name is the Genus and the second name is the species. The
Genus always comes first and begins with a capital letter whereas the species name begins with a lower
E. coli-This is the abbreviated form of Eschericia coli. If you are writing about Eschericia
coli then you can abbreviate it as long as you have the full name before in the paragraph.
Homo sapiens -can be abbreviated to H. sapien
5. Distinguish between heterotrophy and autotrophy. Which feeding method is represented by the
Kingdom Plantae and which by the Kingdom Animalia?
Heterotrophs- organisms that consume other organisms for food. (Kingdom Animalia)
Autotrophs- organisms that make their own food .(Kingdom Plantae)
6. Distinguish between the following phyla of plants, using external characteristics. Give examples.
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
No roots and only has stems and
leaves
2 cm20cm
asexual
Has a stems, leaves and roots
15 meters
asexual
Has roots, stems and leaves
6cm tall
asexually
Has roots, stems and leaves
1 meter
sexual
7. Have a go at using a dichotomous key here:
http://www.scenicoregon.com/webanic/pages/animals.html
Take the opportunity to build your vocabulary while completing this task.
Think of an animal, answer the questions and work through the classification.
8. Distinguish between the following phyla of animals, using external recognition features and
giving examples. Check your answers here: http://www.scenicoregon.com/webanic/pages/map.html
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
9.
none
Surface covered
in pores.
radial
Tentacles
around mouth.
bilateral
Body-flat, thin
.no blood system
bilateral
Blood vessels
visible
bilateral
Hard radula for
feeding.
bilateral
Segmented body
and legs.
Distinguish between these terms:
Radial symmetry
vs
Bilateral symmetry
vs
Radial- circular symmetry
Bilateral- the left side is a copy of the right side.
Asymetrical- both sides are not the same as the other.
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Asymmetrical
Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
Motile
vs
Sessile
Motile- organisms that are able to move around actively and without a partner which helps
them to consume energy during the process.
Sessile- organisms that only stay in one place and does not move around.
10. Design and apply a dichotomous key to distinguish between these
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
Queensland shark species:
11. Look at the species names for the sharks in the chart.
a. Which of the following pairs is most closely related?
A. Black Tip Reef Shark and
White Shark
B. Grey Reef Shark
and
Shortfin Mako
C. Grey Reef Shark
and
Winghead
D. Creek Whaler
and
Black Tip Reef Shark
b. Explain your answer to a.
They are in the same Genus.
c. Which of the following is/are true for the Great Hammerhead and Scalloped
Hammerhead?
i. They are two subspecies of the same species
A.
B.
C.
D.
ii.
They are two species in the same genus
iii.
They are members of the same order
iv.
They are from different phyla
i only
i and ii
ii and iii
iv only
d. Which of the following is/are true of all of the sharks in the chart?
i.
They are members of the same species
ii.
They are part of the same genus
iii.
They are part of the same class
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Essential Biology 5.5: Classification
B.
C.
D.
E.
Stephen Taylor
iv.
They are part of the same kingdom
i only
i and ii
ii and iii
iii and iv
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