Topic

Biodiversity

LEARNING OUTCOMES
By the end of this topic, you should be able to: 1. 2. 3. 4. Describe the classification of organisms according to Linnaeus binomial system; Explain the variety of living things and their characteristics in the animal kingdom; Identify the types of plants in the plant kingdom; and Discuss the classifications of microorganism.

INTRODUCTION

There are various ways of dividing the living world into kingdoms. According to the five kingdoms recommended by the Institute of Biology UK, these five kingdoms are prokaryotae, protoctista, fungi, animalia and plantae. As the living organisms are diverse, a systematic classification is needed. This is based on the Linnaeus taxonomic hierarchy. Taxonomy is a hierarchical system for classifying and identifying organisms.

ACTIVITY 4.1
List three different organisms that you think would fairly represent each of the five kingdoms.

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4.1

CLASSIFICATION OF ORGANISMS, ACCORDING TO LINNAEUS BINOMIAL SYSTEM

As there are enormous varieties of individual living things, biologists believe that classification is essential for our survival. The most popular classification is the binomial system devised by Carolus Linnaeus. Each type of organism is given a name consisting of two words. The first word is the genus name, while the second is the species name. For example, the scientific name of paddy is Oryza sativa. Oryza is the genus name, while sativa is the species name. What is the importance of classification in biology? The importance can be explained as follows: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) To allow biologists to arrange massive data in a managed system; To assign unidentified organisms rapidly into the current system; To discover natural relationships among all classified organisms; To support the organic evolutionary theory of living organisms; To expand other related fields such as morphology, anatomy and physiology. Characteristics are derived from these fields in taxonomic works; To enrich the current taxonomic system. This is possible when new species are found; To prepare a systematic methodology for global living classification; and To aid ecologists in studying interactions among organisms efficiently.

(f) (g) (h)

In addition to naming species, Linnaeus also grouped species into a hierarchy of categories. The base of the hierarchy is species. Species can be defined as a group of organisms that are morphologically and anatomically similar. In addition, they should be able to produce fit offspring. A few related species with close morphological and anatomical characters are grouped under the same genus. Likewise, a few related genera are to be grouped under a family. Following this, a few related families come under the same order and related orders under similar class. Next, phylum consists of a few related classes and related phyla are to be put under a kingdom. See Figure 4.1 on how a grizzly bear is classified.

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Figure 4.1: Hierarchical classification of the grizzly bear Source: http://www.goldiesroom.org

In understanding the taxonomic hierarchy, the term taxon should be wellunderstood. A taxon is a name for an organism in any level of the Linnaeus hierarchy system.

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Category or hierarchy refers to each level of the hierarchical scheme. Examples of taxa are shown in Table 4.1.
Table 4.1: Taxonomy of Maize and Rat Category or hierarchy Kingdom Phylum Class Order Family Genus Species Plantae Tracheophyta (Angiospermophyta) Angiospermae (Monocotyledoneae) Glumiflorae Maydeae Taxon Maize Animalia Chordata Mammalia Rodentia Muroideae Rat

Zea Mays

Rattus Rattus

FromTable4.1,wecanextractandsaythatthefamilytaxonforratisMuroideae andZeaisthegenustaxonformaize.

ACTIVITY 4.2
Referring to the Internet, answer the questions below. 1. Why do we need to put the binomial naming system or scientific names in the italic form? Instead of the italic form, is there any other way to represent those words in the binomial naming system?

2.

4.2

ANIMAL KINGDOM

We have gone through how animals are classified, and learned how to recognise their taxonomy. Let us now continue our topic with the study of the animal kingdom, or kingdom Animalia (also known as Metazoa). See Figure 4.2 for some of the animals in this kingdom.

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There are two types of animals, invertebrates and vertebrates. Scientists estimated that 95% of the animal species found on this earth are invertebrates. Members of the animal kingdom have the following characteristics: (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) (g) Multicellular; Non-photosynthetic, feeding heterotrophically; Storage of excess carbohydrates as glycogen; Eukaryotic with no cell wall; Specialised tissues for movement and responses Most are sexually reproduced; and Nervous coordination, except for sponges.

Figure 4.2: Kingdom of Animalia Source: http://www.docstoc.com

We can discover a variety of living things in the animal kingdom ranging from small to large animals. Listed below are some phyla to be introduced with examples in English and Malay language. (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) Mollusca Octopus (sotong kurita); Cnidaria Jellyfish (obor-obor); Platyhelminthes Tapeworm (cacing pita); Nematoda Ringworm (cacing gelang); Annelida Earthworm (cacing tanah);

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(f) (g) (h)

Arthropoda Scorpion (kala jengking); includes insects, spider, crustaceans and mites; Echinodermata Starfish (tapak sulaiman); and Chordata Orang utan (orang utan); includes fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals.

SELF-CHECK 4.1
Look at the list below: Spider, butterfly, grasshopper and dragonfly. Which one do you think is not an insect?

4.3

PLANT KINGDOM

All the plants that grow around us are under the same kingdom, the plant kingdom (or kingdom Plantae). We are living in a tropical country and are surrounded by trees and grasses. See Figure 4.3 for some of the plants in this kingdom. There are four general characteristics of a plant: (a) (b) (c) (d) Eukaryotic; Cellulose cell walls; Multicellular; and Autotrophic (some photosynthesis). cells contain chloroplasts and they feed by

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Figure 4.3: Kingdom of Plantae Source: http://www.docstoc.com

In understanding plant biodiversity, you need to know that there are four phyla: (a) (b) (c) (d) Bryophyt Mosses; Filicinophyta Ferns (see Figure 4.4); Coniferophyta Conifers; and Angiospermophyta Flowering plants.

Figure 4.4: Asexual non-motile spores underside of fern leaves

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Table 4.2 shows some characteristics of the plant kingdom.

Table 4.2: Characteristics of Plants Common Name Mosses x x Ferns x Characteristic features Have no true stems or leaves, lack xylem and phloem; and The body is anchored in the substrate by rhizoids, not roots and have motile male gametes. The body has true leaves, stems and roots with an elaborate vascular system of xylem and phloem, small structure gamethophyte called prothallus; Coiled young leaves known as fiddleheads; and Produce asexual non-motile spores underside of leaves (see Figure 4.4) but can also reproduce sexually. Cone-bearing plants, no flowers and no fruits. Have needle-like leaves which are protected by a waxy cuticle; and Produce pollen for reproduction. True flowers, seed-bearing plants; Reproductive structures are carried within the flowers; and Fruits protect the seeds and help to disperse them efficiently.

x x Conifers x x x Flowering plants x x x

Some 250,000 species are Angiospermophyta phylla. It includes a wide variety of plants such as grasses, flowering shrubs and flowering trees. This phylla is so large that plants in it are divided into two classes: (a) (b) Monocotyledoneae (i.e. maize); and Dicotyledoneae (i.e. rose).

Table 4.3 shows the different features of monocotyledoneae and dicotyledoneae.

Table 4.3: Features of Monocotyledoneae and Dicotyledoneae Features Embryo Leaf veins Flower parts Secondary growth Class Monocotyledoneae One cotyledon Usually parallel Often in three Never woody Class Dicotyledoneae Two cotyledons Branching Often five, four or more Woody

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SELF-CHECK 4.2
List the differences between monocotyledoneae and dicotyledoneae.

4.4

MICROORGANISM

Microorganism can be classified into five categories (see Figure 4.5).

Figure 4.5: Categories of microorganisms

Each of these categories has its own features based on shape, size, reproduction, nutrition and habitat. (a) Bacteria Bacteria are small unicellular organisms. They are named by their shapes as shown in Figure 4.6.

Figure 4.6: Names of bacteria

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Table 4.4 gives you a list of bacterias features and their explanation.
Table 4.4: Features of Bacteria Feature Shape x x x x x Explanation Different organisation cell: singular, pairs, bunches or chains; Motile with flagella (see Figure 4.7); No real nucleus, spread DNA within cytoplasm without enclosed membrane; Peptidoglican cell wall; and Some has thick outer cell wall called capsule.

Figure 4.7: Bacteria with flagella Size Reproduction x x 0.1 m to 10 m. Normally, asexual by binary fission. Offspring produced have same genetic materials (see Figure 4.8).

Figure 4.8: Asexual reproduction of bacteria

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Sexual reproduction is through conjugation in extreme environment (see Figure 4.9). However, it is continued by binary fission but the offspring have different genetic materials.

Figure 4.9: Sexual reproduction of bacteria (conjugation) Source: www.personal.psu.edu Nutrition x x x Habitat x Autotroph with chlorophyll can make their own food; Saprophyte find their food by decomposing dead organism; and Parasite get their food from living host. Almost everywhere.

(b)

Fungi Fungi or moulds are multicellular microorganisms that produce spores (see Figure 4.10).

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Figure 4.10: Moulds on bread

For further explanation on the features of fungi, lets take a look at Table 4.5.
Table 4.5: Features of Fungi Feature Shape x x x Size Reproduction Nutrition Habitat x x x x Explanation Various structures. Yeast is unicellular, while mushroom is multicellular; No chlorophyll, they feed saprotrophically; and Chitin cell wall. 10 m to 100 m. Asexual (sometimes sexual) production of very large numbers of mini reproductive spores. Thread-like structure; hyphae lie on or in the substrate for nutrient source. Soil, water, rotten fruit/vegetables and overdue bread.

For further reading on fungi, you http://leavingbio.net/FUNGUS/Fungi2.htm. (c)

can

visit

this

website:

Protozoa Most protozoa are motile unicellular microorganisms. Take a look at Figure 4.11 for examples of how protozoa looks like.

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Figure 4.11: Protozoa

Table 4.6 offers explanations on the features of protozoa.

Table 4.6: Features of Protozoa Feature Shape x x Constantly changing; Paramecium species move using cilia, euglena move using flagella, while ameoba move using their fake foot, pseudopodia. Plasmodium is an example of non-motile protozoa; Some protozoa have contractile vacuole for osmoregulation; Flexible thin cell membrane; and No cell wall. 5 m to 250 m. Mostly asexual through binary fission or spores; and Some reproduce sexually through conjugation where meiosis took place (see Figure 4.12). Explanation

x x x Size Reproduction x x x

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Figure 4.12: Conjugation of Paramecium caudatum Nutrition x Protozoa with chlorophyll produce their own food, while the other with flagella, cilia or pesudopodia swim for their food (see Figure 4.13).

Figure 4.13: Phagocytosis process of feeding amoeba Source: www.britannica.com Habitat x Watery area such as pond, river, intestine and blood vessel.

(d)

Virus Virus infects every type of living organism. Viruses by themselves are not alive. They cannot grow or multiply on their own and need to enter living cells and take over the cells to help them multiply.

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Bacteriophage virus (Figure 4.14) is not covered by membrane envelope, while influenza virus (Figure 4.15) is enclosed with envelope. Nucleic acid of bacteriophage contains DNA, while influenza virus contains RNA.

Figure 4.14: Bacteriophage virus

Figure 4.15: Influenza virus

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Table 4.7 explains the features of virus.

Table 4.7: Features of Virus Feature Shape x x Various shape; Tiny bundle of genetic material, either DNA or RNA, carried in a shell called the viral coat (capsid), which is made up of bits of protein. Some viruses have an additional layer around this coat called an envelope; and Lipid membrane covers the capsid. Many viruses do not have this envelope and are called naked viruses. 0.0006 m to 0.4 m (can only be seen through electron microscope). The first step in a viral infection is the binding of a bacteriophage to a host protein. After binding, the chromosomes are fused within the host cell membrane and spread into the host cytoplasm. They will then replicate. When the host dies, the progeny bacteriophages are released (see Figure 4.16). Explanation

x Size Reproduction x x

Figure 4.16: Bacteriophage life cycle Nutrition Habitat x x Parasite, get food from host. Living medium only.

You can visit this website to see an animation of the HIV virus: http://www.sumanasinc.com/webcontent/animations/content/lifecycleh iv.html

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(e)

Algae Algaearephotosyntheticorganismsthatoccurinmosthabitats. Refer to Table 4.8 on features of algae.

Table 4.8: Features of Algae Feature Explanation x x x x x x Various shape; Phytoplankton is unicellular while seaweed is multicellular; Multicellular algae do not have true part like stem, leaves and root; Presence of chlorophyll (green pigment) in green algae as well as red and brown pigments in different algae (see Figure 4.17). Motile algae glides or moves using their flagella Cellulosed cell wall, slimy algae has pectin cell wall

Shape

Figure 4.17: Red, brown and green algae Size Reproduction x x 1 m to 60 m. Depends on the surroundings. Normally, asexual through binary fission (see an example in Figure 4.18). In extreme surroundings, it mates sexually.

Figure 4.18: Spirogira elongated through binary fission Nutrition Habitat x x Autotroph because they have chlorophyll. Almost everywhere especially damp sites.

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SELF-CHECK 4.3
1. In the table below, place a () if the feature is present or a (X) if the feature is absent for flagella, chlorophyll and spores.
Flagella Bacteria Viruses Algae Fungi Protozoa Chlorophyll Spores

2.

Look at the three pictures below and answer the questions that follow.

A (a) (b) (c) (d)

Identify each type of bacterium from its shape. Which bacteria is motile? Give your reason. Give one way in which a bacterial cell wall differs from a plant cell wall. Which type of bacteria is used for making probiotic drinks like Vitagen and Nutrigen?

The Linnaeus taxonomic hierarchy is used by taxonomists to organise organisms. The hierarchy goes down from kingdom to phylum, class, order, family, genus and lastly, to species.

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The five kingdoms of living things according to the Institute of Biology UK are prokaryotae, protoctista, animalia, plantae and fungi. Each kingdom has its own features or characteristics. Animals are divided into inveterbrates and veterbrates. There are four general characteristics of plants: eukaryotic, cellulose cell walls, multicellular and autotrophic. Microorganisms can be classified into bacteria, protozoa, fungi, algae and virus.

Algae Angiospermophyta Animalia Annelida Arthropoda Autotroph Bacteria Bryophyta Chlorophyll Chordata Cnidaria Coniferophyta Dicotyledoneae Echinodermata Filicinophyta Fungi Genus Heterotroph

Kingdom Linnaeus binomial system Mollusca Monocotyledoneae Multicellular Nematoda Phylum/Phyla Plantae Platyhelminthes Prokaryotae Protoctista Protozoa Saprophytic Species Taxon Unicellular Virus

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Brock, T. D., Brock, K. M., & Ward, D. M. (1989). Asas mikrobiologi dan penggunaannya. Kuala Lumpur: Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka. Kent, M. (2000). Advanced biology. New York: Oxford. Lee Soon Ching & Liew Shee Leong. (2000). Biologi STPM Jilid 1. Kuala Lumpur: Penerbit Fajar Bakti Sdn Bhd.