Biology
1.0 Living organisms in the Environment
Specific Objectives
Students should be able to:
1.1. group living organisms found in a named habitat based on observed similarities and
differences;
1.2 classify organisms into taxonomic groups based on physical similarities;
There are a variety of living organisms…
Living organisms may be classified into groups based on their similarities and differences.
Simple classifications can be made on observable characteristics (what we can see). E.g.
Number of legs, presence of antennae, presence of wings, body segmentation, etc.
The major groups of Living organisms
Based on their characteristics, living organisms can be placed into major groups.
Bacteria - Unicellular organisms that
lack a true nucleus. DNA is spread
throughout the cell. E.g. Typhoid
The Living World
Fungi- Body consists of a network of
thread-like hyphae which form a
mycelium. Reproduction is by spores.
E.g. mushrooms, mould
Protists - unicellular organisms but have
a true nucleus. No cell wall is present .
E.g . Amoeba, Parameciulm
Plants - Usually stationary, they have cell
walls and contain chlorophyll. They
make their own food by photosynthesis
Animals - Usually move from place to *Even though viruses are not alive
place. Cells lack cell walls and
chlrophyll. Feed on other organisms per-se, they still play a significant
role in the day to day lives of living
*Viruses - Minute "particles" composed organisms and the environment.
of nuclear material enclosed in a protein
coat. E.g. Herpes, HIV, Influenza, etc
Classification
These major groups essentially give rise to the five Kingdoms which form the broadest
category into which living organisms can be placed.
This forms the beginning of Biological Classification or TAXONOMY which in Biology is
the science of naming, defining and classifying groups of biological organisms on the basis
of shared characteristics.
The modern taxonomic system was developed by a Swedish Botanist, Carolus Linnaeus.
Why Classify Organisms?
Classification is important because:
• It makes us aware of and gives us information regarding the diversity of plants and animals.
• It makes the study of different kinds of organisms much easier by providing a way of identifying
different groups of organisms.
• It tells us about the inter-relationship among the various organisms.
• It helps to understand the evolution of organisms.
• It helps environmentalists to develop new methods of conservation of plants and animals.
• It gives internationally recognized way of referring to a particular organism.
Classification
The five kingdoms often go by their latin names which can be seen below
Classification
Once organisms are placed into kingdoms based on the most general of their
characteristics, they can be further classified into more narrow categories by observing
more specific characteristics.
This gives rise to a hierarchical structure of classification consisting of seven levels
Kingdoms have very general characteristics while species have very specific
characteristics
Classification
A clever acronym to remember it is: Keep Ponds Clean Or Frogs Get Sick
Common Phyla of Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Arthropoda – The Arthropods: insects, spiders, crustaceans.
Habitat: arthropods are found in all environments.
Numbers: Arthropods are the most successful of any animal group. This is mainly due to the success of
insects, which has more than a million different species.
Body Plan: Arthropods have a segmented body with paired jointed appendages that provide excellent
movement for walking, swimming, flying, grabbing, fighting, digging and biting just to name a few. In
most arthropods the body is divided into a head, abdomen and thorax.
Exoskeleton: The outside skeleton of arthropods is made of chitin which protects the soft body of this
animal and prevents water loss allowing them to live successfully on land.
Symmetry: Bilateral
Common Phyla of Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata – The Chordates: fish, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals
Habitat: marine, freshwater, or terrestrial
Symmetry: bilateral
Dorsal nerve cord.
Chordates have a flexible, supporting rod or notochord on their dorsal side. In the invertebrates
the notochord remains stiff and flexible. In the vertebrates, cartilage or bone replaces the
notochord to form a supporting backbone.
Common Phyla of Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca – The Mollusks: clams, snails, oysters, octopus .
Habitat: marine and fresh water; terrestrial
Body Plan: Mollusks have a soft, unsegmented body and often move with a strong muscular foot
on its ventral surface.
The radula: Mollusks are well known for their tongue-like organ called the radula which has
many rows of teeth and is used to scrape food from the surface of plants and rocks.
The mantle: The mantle is a fold of skin that surrounds the body organs. The mantle acts like a
gland because it is capable of secretion. These secretions harden to help form the shells of
mollusks.
Symmetry: bilateral
Common Classes of Phylum Chordata
Common Classes of Phylum Arthropoda
Example of Classification
Scientific Names
These follow a specific set of rules. Scientists use a two-name system called a Binomial
Naming System.
Scientists name animals and plants using the system that describes the genus and species of
the organism. The first word is the genus and the second is the species.
The first word is capitalized and the second is not A binomial name means that it's made up
of two words (binomial).
Lions are scientifically named Panthera leo. Meaning they belong to the genus Panthera
and species leo. You may also see an abbreviation of this name as P. leo where the genus is
only represented by the first letter.
Scientific Names
Review
https://youtu.be/FoZUNdOUj9g
