Topic 5.3: Classification & Biodiversity

Essential Idea:  Species are named and classified using an internationally agreed system.
At SHS, Topic 5.3 is taught in the following class unit(s):

Statements & Objectives:

5.3.U1  The binomial system of names for species is universal among biologists and has been agreed and developed at a series of congresses.
  • ​Outline the role of botanical and zoological congresses in the naming of plants and animals.
5.3.U2  When species are discovered they are given scientific names using the binomial system.
  • Define binomial nomenclature.
  • State three rules of binomial nomenclature formatting. ​
5.3.U3  Taxonomists classify species using a hierarchy of taxa.​
  • Define taxon and taxonomist.
  • List the hierarchy of taxa, from largest to smallest.
5.3.U4  All organisms are classified into three domains.
  • State the two groups of prokaryotes.
  • List the three domains of life.
  • Outline differences between the three domains of life.
  • Draw a tree diagram to illustrate the evolutionary relationship between organisms of the three domains.
5.3.U5  The principal taxa for classifying eukaryotes are kingdom, phylum, class, order, family and genus and species.
  • List the four kingdoms of eukaryotes.
  • List the hierarchy of taxa, from largest to smallest​.
5.3.U6  In a natural classification, the genus and accompanying higher taxa consist of all the species that have evolved from one common ancestral species.
  • ​Define natural classification.
  • List two difficulties in determining the natural classification of species.
5.3.U7  Taxonomists sometimes reclassify groups of species when new evidence shows that a previous taxon contains species that have evolved from different ancestral species.
  • List two situations in which the reclassification of a species may be necessary.  
  • Outline an example of a species (or group of species) which were reclassified when new evidence was discovered. ​
5.3.U8  Natural classification helps in identification of species and allows the prediction of characteristics shared by species within a group.
  • Explain two specific advantages of natural classification.
5.3.A1  Classification of one plant and one animal species from domain to species level.
  • ​State the classification of a plant, from domain to species.
  • State the classification of an animal, from domain to species.
5.3.A2  Recognition features of bryophyte, filicinophyta, coniferophyta, and angiospermophyta.
  • State the four major plant phyla.
  • Outline the differences between the four major plant phyla in regard to external recognition features.
  • Identify the phyla of plant given external recognition features.
5.3.A3  Recognition features of porifera, cnidarian pletyhelmintha, annelida, Mollusca, arthropda and chordata.
  • State seven major animal phyla.
  • Outline the characteristics of seven major animal phyla.
  • Identify the phyla of animal given external recognition features.
5.3.A4  Recognition of features of birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles and fish.​
  • Contrast chordate and vertebrate.
  • State five major classes of chordata.  
  • Outline the characteristics of five major vertebrate classes.
  • Identify the vertebrate class of animal given external recognition features.
5.3.S1  Construction of dichotomous keys for use in identifying specimens.
  • Explain the use of a dichotomous key in the identification of a specimen.
  • Create a dichotomous key given a sample of known specimens. ​
5.3.NOS  Cooperation and collaboration between groups of scientists- scientists use the binomial system to identify a species rather than the many different local names.
  • ​​Outline why the binomial naming system is used in science rather than local names.
  • State the role of Carl Linnaeus in naming species.

In the News:
"When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe." 
 John Muir,   1911