Six Kingdoms of Life Article
Objective: You will demonstrate your knowledge of the six kingdoms of life by gathering information from the included text and filling out a graphic organizer chart.
Steps to follow:
1. Fill in the Kingdoms of Life Chart - read the attached information and fill in your chart as you go.
2. Answer the two questions beneath the chart - use the chart to determine which kingdom of life the newly discovered organisms belong.
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Kingdom Eubacteria
Kingdom Eubacteria consists of unicellular life forms. Eubacteria are all prokaryotes. These cells are smaller, far simpler and more basic than the cells of most other life forms. Prokaryotic cells have no nucleus, and are also missing many of the organelles, or small parts, commonly found in other cells. However, most eubacteria do contain cell walls made of peptidoglycan - a network of protein and sugar chains - to provide strength and shape to the cell.
Eubacteria are classified into two main groups, autotrophs and heterotrophs. Autotrophs are able to create their own food and energy, similar to plants performing photosynthesis. Some autotrophic eubacteria may perform chemosynthesis instead in which chemicals provide the energy needed for the cell to make its own food. Heterotrophs cannot create their own food, and so must rely on other organisms as their food source. Many of the heterotrophic eubacteria are actually decomposers. Decomposers are a distinct type of heterotroph that breaks down dead organisms and organic wastes.
Eubacteria are commonly found in the soil, water, and air around us. They can survive on many surfaces like our skin, tables, and food. Eubacteria are extremely important - they help us digest food, break down waste, and make products like yogurt and cheese. Some eubacteria are pathogens, organisms that cause sickness, such as streptococcus and salmonella.
Streptococcus
(the bacteria that causes strep throat) Salmonella
Kingdom Archaebacteria
Kingdom Archaebacteria consists of prokaryotic organisms, which means they lack a nucleus and other complex organelles. These simple organisms are all unicellular. Although they do contain cell walls, the composition of those walls is different amongst the various species.
The archaebacteria are typically found in extreme environments, so they are often referred to as extremophiles. For example, some archaebacteria live in hot springs at extremely high temperatures. Others are found in the arctic, where it’s very cold. Some can even live in very salty or in very acidic environments.
Archaebacteria include autotrophs, heterotrophs and decomposers. Autotrophs are able to create their own food, similar to plants performing photosynthesis. They may also perform chemosynthesis. Heterotrophs cannot create their own food, and so must rely on other organisms as their food source. Decomposers break down dead organic matter. Decomposers are a distinct type of heterotroph.
Examples:
Thermophiles Halophiles
(live in hot springs) (live in salty environments, like the dead sea)
Methanogens (live in high methane environments)
Kingdom Protista
Protists are organisms that are classified into the kingdom Protista.
The protists form a group of organisms that really do not fit into any other kingdom. Although there is a lot of variety within the protists, they do share some common characteristics.
All protists live in moist environments. All protists are also eukaryotes, meaning their cells have a nucleus which contains the DNA. From here, the diversity of the Kingdom Protista becomes one of its defining characteristics.
Most protists are unicellular, however, kelp and other seaweeds are multicellular. Although most protists lack cell walls, there are a few that do have them. The makeup of these cell walls differs amongst the various species. Some are autotrophs, or producers, making their own food by photosynthesis (like algae); others are heterotrophs (consumers) and must ingest (eat) other living things (like amoeba and paramecium); and some specialized protists are decomposers which break down dead organic matter (like slime molds).
Examples:
Amoeba Paramecium
Slime Mold Algae
Kingdom Fungi
The Kingdom Fungi includes some of the most important organisms, both in terms of their ecological and economic roles. By decomposing dead material, they continue the cycle of nutrients through ecosystems. In addition, most plants could not grow without the fungi, or mycorrhizae, that live in their roots and supply essential nutrients. Other fungi provide numerous drugs (such as penicillin and other antibiotics), foods like mushrooms, truffles and morels, and the bubbles in bread (from yeast), champagne, and beer.
Fungi are eukaryotes, which means their cells have a nucleus which contains their DNA. Their cells also have a cell wall made of chitin. Fungi include both unicellular (yeasts) and multicellular (molds, mushrooms etc.) organisms that are generally visible to the naked eye. Fungi don’t move on their own, nor do they make their own food. Fungi are heterotrophs or consumers, which means they get their nutrients from other living things. Specifically, fungi are decomposers that use external digestion – they secrete (let out) digestive enzymes that dissolve their food, and then they absorb the nutrients they need from the environment.
Examples:
Mushrooms Molds
Yeast
Kingdom Plantae
Plantae includes all land and aquatic plants: mosses, ferns, grass, trees, flowering plants, and so on—an amazing range of diverse forms. Plants don’t move. They are all autotrophs, or producers, which means they make their own food through photosynthesis. Plants are multicellular, meaning that they consist of many cells. They are also eukaryotes, so all of their cells have a nucleus which houses their DNA. Plants cells also contain cell walls made of cellulose.
The most striking, and important, feature of plants is their green color, the result of a pigment called chlorophyll. Plants use chlorophyll to capture light energy, which fuels the manufacture of food—sugar, starch, and other carbohydrates. Without these food sources, most life on earth would be impossible. There would still be mushrooms and algae, but there would be no fruits, vegetables, grains, or any animals (which ultimately rely on plants for their food too!)
Another important contribution of plants is their shaping of the environment. Plants give us oxygen to breathe and provide food and habitat for many species of animals! Without plants, we couldn’t survive!
Examples:
Mosses Ferns Flowers
Trees
Kingdom Animalia
Humans are a part of the kingdom Animalia. All members of the kingdom Animalia are eukaryotes. Their cells contain a nucleus (which houses their DNA) and complex organelles. Their cells lack cell walls, however. Like many other life forms, animals are multicellular. These cells come together, forming tissues, organs, and organ systems that help sustain the life of the animal. From elephants to snails, animals come in many shapes and sizes, and can be found all over the world.
Animals cannot make their own food, instead they must ingest (eat) their food. They are heterotrophs, or consumers, and must rely on other living things, such as plants, fungi, and other animals to sustain them. Without other food sources, animals could not survive.
There are more species of animals than in all the other kingdoms.
From worms, to blue whales, to bald eagles, animals have evolved to fit a wide variety of habitats.
Animals all have a body plan. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis (caterpillar to butterfly) later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move around independently.
Examples:
Insects Coral Gorilla