Bio. 230 --- Classification, Taxonomy, Nomenclature

Taxonomy / Systematics / ClassifyWhat are Taxonomy* and Systematics*?

What is a Phylogenetic Survey?

What is Phylogeny*?

What is Ontogeny*?

Basic Classification Hierarchy* - DOMAIN - KINGDOM - DIVISION or PHYLUM - CLASS - ORDER - FAMILY - GENUS - SPECIES(many levels can have sublevels: e.g. subfamily)

Basic Classification Hierarchy - DOMAIN (Eukarya) - KINGDOM (Animalia) - DIVISION or PHYLUM (Chordata) - SUBPHYLUM (Vertebrata) - CLASS (Mammalia) - ORDER (Primate) - FAMILY (Hominidae) - GENUS (Homo) - SPECIES (Homo sapiens)(many levels can have sublevels: e.g. subfamily)

Taxon / TaxaWhat is a TAXON* (pl. taxa)?????NO ABSOLUTE way to determine if something should be a genus, a family or a phylumStill there is much agreement as to what goes in a group such as GREEN ALGAE or FLOWERING PLANTS or BACTERIA

Position in the HierarchyThere is no ABSOLUTE rank in a hierarchy! (No ABSOLUTE way to determine position in a hierarchy)Despite this most authorities are in general agreement how to organize species into higher taxaAn example (using families) Solanaceae SphecidaeHow might “experts” differ in the above examples?

The SpeciesThe only taxon that has ‘biological reality’Human Beings (a species)What is our scientific name?Species: Homo sapiens LinnaeusGenus: HomoSpecific Epithet: sapiensGenus + Specific Epithet = SpeciesAuthor Citation: Linnaeus

Classify / Classification (I)GOAL: a natural* classificationA Classification*: information storage and retrieval systemWhat type of information to use?Everything and anything (morphology, anatomy, distribution, cytology, genetics, DNA homologies, behaviors, etc.)

Classify / Classification (II)Why do we look down on classification activities and disciplines (taxonomy and systematics)?Why do classification schemes keep on changing?Why are taxonomy and systematics more important than ever?

NomenclatureNaming thingsWhy a system of Nomenclature*?Why scientific names? Why not just use common names?Binomial SystemWhy latinized names?Very specific rules --- Why is this important?Rules (name endings, etc.) currently differ for plants vs. animals --- Why?

Classification Hierarchy Revisited- ALL LIVING THINGS (= Storage Building) - DOMAIN (= a floor in the building) - KINGDOM (= large storage room) - DIVISION or PHYLUM (= file cabinet) - CLASS (= drawer) - ORDER (= large file folder) - FAMILY (= smaller folder in the large folder) - GENUS (= stapled packet) - SPECIES (= single page)

Changing (?) Classifications IHow many Kingdoms?????Two Three Five SixPlantae Protista* Monera ArchaebacteriaAnimalia Plantae Protista* Eubacteria Animalia Fungi Protista* Plantae Fungi Animalia Plantae AnimaliaWhat is the difference?????*Protista also known as Protoctista

Changing (?) Classifications II

Changing (?) Classifications IIIThe three DOMAIN system:Not really that differentArchaea are in one domainBacteria are in the second domainAll eukaryotes are in the third domainKingdoms are the next subdivision below the domain

The ProtistsAn ‘unnatural’ groupAt the moment it is a ‘collect all’ (like a junk drawer)If it isn’t a plant, animal, fungus, archaean or bacterium, then it is a Protist In time, as we learn more, we will take things out of this group and then there may be more kingdoms, phyla, etc.