Lecture Notes: Organism Diversity

Introduction

• Purpose: Learn about organism diversity
• Definition:
  • Organism: Any living thing
  • Diversity: Differences throughout organisms
• Focus on taxonomy: Classification and naming of organisms
• Acronym: Did King Phillip Come Over For Good Soup
  • Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Taxonomy

• Study of classification of organisms
• Species: Specific category; population that can interbreed and have viable offspring
• Nomenclature: Naming system of organisms

Classification Hierarchy

• Domain: Most general
  • Two domains: Prokaryote, Eukaryote
  • Prokaryotes: DNA in cytoplasm, simple, unicellular
  • Eukaryotes: Nucleus protecting DNA, complex, multicellular

Kingdoms of Eukaryotes

• Protists
  • Single-celled or multi-celled
  • Producers, consumers, decomposers
  • Examples: Diatoms, Sarassum, Kelp
• Fungi
  • Mostly terrestrial
  • Decomposers, not photosynthetic
• Plants
  • Keystone for terrestrial ecosystems
  • Example: Duckweed, Hornwort
• Animals
  • Producers and consumers

Phyla of Animals

• Porifera (Sponges)
  • Filter feeders, asymmetrical
  • Sexual and asexual reproduction
• Cnidaria (Jellies, Anemones, Corals)
  • Radial symmetry, stinging cells
• Arthropoda (Insects, Crustaceans)
  • Bilateral symmetry, segmented bodies
• Mollusca (Snails, Clams, Squid)
  • Radula, mantle, diverse feeding strategies
• Echinodermata (Sea stars, Sea urchins)
  • Radial symmetry, spiny skin, fragmentation
• Chordata
  • Includes vertebrates and some invertebrates

Classes of Vertebrates

• Fish
  • Jawless, Cartilaginous, Bony
• Amphibians
  • Metamorphosis, sensitive to pollution
• Reptiles
  • Orders: Spenidonia, Crocodiles, Skamata, Testines
• Birds
  • Over 11,000 species
• Mammals
  • Viviparous, diverse habitats

Species Naming

• Scientific Naming: Genus species (e.g., Homo sapiens)

Assignment

• Choose a phylum to research (e.g., Porifera, Cnidaria, Mollusca)
• Create a poster within two days