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    Diversity in The Living World

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    Diversity in The Living World

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    Diversity in the Living World

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    Diversity in The Living World

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    Diversity in the Living World

    1.1 Diversity in the Living World

    Local Names and Standardization


    Local Names: Vary by region, causing confusion.
    Need for Standardization: To avoid confusion and facilitate global communication.

    Nomenclature
    Definition: The process of naming living organisms.
    Requirements: Accurate description and identification of organisms.
    Scientific Naming: Established procedures for plants (ICBN) and animals (ICZN).
    Binomial Nomenclature: Developed by Carolus Linnaeus; uses two components
    (generic name and specific epithet). Example: Mangifera indica (mango)
    Generic name: Mangifera
    Specific epithet: indica

    Rules of Nomenclature
    1. Biological names are Latin or Latinised and written in italics.
    2. The first word (genus) starts with a capital letter.
    3. The second word (species) starts with a small letter.
    4. Names are underlined when handwritten.
    Author Citation: The author's name appears after the species name (e.g., Mangifera
    indica Linn.).

    Classification and Taxonomy


    Classification: Grouping organisms based on observable characteristics.
    Taxa (taxon) : Categories used in classification (e.g., dogs, cats, mammals, plants).
    Taxonomy: The science of classification, involving characterization, identification,
    classification, and nomenclature. Modern Taxonomy: Based on external and internal
    structures, cell structure, development processes, and ecological information.
    Systematics
    Definition: Study of organism diversity and relationships.
    Scope: Includes identification, nomenclature, and classification.
    Evolutionary Relationships: Central to systematics.

    1.2 Taxonomic Categories

    Hierarchical Classification
    Definition: A hierarchy of steps, each representing a rank or category.
    Taxonomic Category: Each step in the hierarchy.
    Taxonomic Hierarchy: All categories together form the hierarchy.

    Common Taxonomic Categories


    Criteria for Classification
    Basis: Knowledge of characteristics of individuals or groups of organisms.
    Purpose: Identify similarities and dissimilarities among organisms.

    Examples of Taxonomic Categories


    Species: Group of organisms with fundamental similarities.
    Examples: Mangifera indica (mango), Solanum tuberosum (potato), Panthera leo (lion).

    Genus: Group of related species.


    Examples: Solanum (potato, brinjal), Panthera (lion, leopard, tiger).

    Family: Group of related genera.


    Examples: Solanaceae (Solanum, Petunia, Datura), Felidae (Panthera, Felis).
    *Solanum is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include three food crops of high economic importance:
    the potato, the tomato and the eggplant

    Order: Assemblage of families with few similar characters.


    Examples: Polymoniales (Convolvulaceae, Solanaceae), Carnivora (Felidae, Canidae).

    Class: Group of related orders.


    Example: Mammalia (Primata, Carnivora).

    Phylum: Group of related classes.


    Example: Chordata (fishes, amphibians, reptiles, birds, mammals).

    Kingdom: Highest category, grouping all animals or all plants.


    Examples: Kingdom Animalia, Kingdom Plantae.

    Taxonomic Hierarchy Illustration


    Hierarchy: From species to kingdom.
    Characteristic Similarities: Decrease as you move up the hierarchy.
    Common Characteristics: More prevalent in lower taxa.
    EXERCISES
    1. Why are living organisms classified?
    Living organisms are classified to manage the immense variety of life forms on Earth,
    which differ in size, shape, color, habitat, and other characteristics. Classification
    makes it possible to study these organisms systematically. Scientists use established
    rules and principles to identify, name nomenclature, and classify organisms,
    facilitating easier understanding and communication.

    2. Why are the classification systems changing every now and then?
    Huge numbers of plants, animals, and microorganisms are found on earth. Many of
    these have been identified by the scientists while many new species are still being
    discovered around the world. Therefore, to classify these newly discovered species,
    new systems of classification have to be derived every now and then. This creates the
    requirement to change the existing systems of classification.

    3. What different criteria would you choose to classify people that you meet often?
    The various criteria that may be chosen to classify people whom we meet often
    include behavior, geographical location, morphology, family members, relatives,
    friends etc.

    4. What do we learn from identification of individuals and populations?


    The knowledge of characteristics of an individual or its whole population helps in
    identification of similarities and dissimilarities among the individuals of similar kind
    or between different types of organisms. It helps us to classify the organisms in
    various categories depending upon these similarities and dissimilarities.
    5. Given below is the scientific name of Mango. Identify the correctly written name.
    Mangifera Indica
    Mangifera indica
    In the binomial system of nomenclature, the generic name of a species always starts
    with a capital letter whereas the specific name starts with a small letter. Therefore,
    the correct scientific name of Mango is Mangifera indica.

    6. Define a taxon. Give some examples of taxa at different hierarchical levels.


    A taxon is a unit in the biological system of classification for organisms, representing
    a specific rank such as phylum, order, family, genus, or species. The degree of
    relationship and similarity among organisms varies with the taxonomic rank.
    Individuals in higher ranks, like order or family, are less closely related than those in
    lower ranks, such as genus or species.
    For instance, all insects form a taxon. In birds, the class taxon is Aves and the phylum taxon is Chordata.

    7. Can you identify the correct sequence of taxonomic categories?

    (a) Species → Order → Phylum → Kingdom


    (b) Genus → Species → Order → Kingdom
    (c) Species → Genus → Order → Phylum

    Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum → Kingdom

    8. Try to collect all the currently accepted meanings for the word ‘species’. The meaning of
    species in case of higher plants and animals on one hand, and bacteria on the other hand.
    - Key Position: Species occupy a key position in classification as the lowest
    taxonomic category.
    - Definition: It is a natural population or group of populations that resemble one
    another in essential morphological and reproductive characters, allowing them to
    interbreed freely and produce fertile offspring.
    - Genetic Distinctiveness: Each species is genetically distinct and reproductively
    isolated from other species.
    - Higher Plants and Animals: In higher plants and animals, a species refers to
    individuals that can interbreed freely and produce fertile offspring.
    - Bacteria Classification: Interbreeding is not a criterion for bacterial species due to
    asexual reproduction. Instead, classification relies on molecular homology,
    biochemical, physiological, ecological, and morphological characters.

    9. Define and understand the following terms:


    (i) Phylum (ii) Class (iii) Family (iv) Order (v) Genus

    (i) Phylum is the primary division of the kingdom. It includes one or more related
    classes of animals. In plants, instead of phylum, the term ‘division’ is used.

    (ii) Class is a taxonomic group consisting of one or more related orders.


    For example, the class, Mammalia, includes many orders.

    (iii) Family is a taxonomic group containing one or more related genera. In plants,
    families are categorized on the basis of vegetative and reproductive features.

    (iv) Order is a taxonomic group containing one or more families.


    For example, the order, carnivore, includes many families.

    (v) Genus is a taxonomic group including closely related species.


    For example, the genus, Solanum, includes many species such as nigrum, melongena,
    tuberosum(Potato), etc.
    - Solanum nigrum, the European black nightshade or simply black nightshade or blackberry nightshade, is a species
    of flowering plant in the family
    - Melongena is a genus of sea snails

    *Solanum is a large and diverse genus of flowering plants, which include three food
    crops of high economic importance: the potato, the tomato and the eggplant

    10. Illustrate the taxonomic hierarchy with suitable examples of a plant and an animal.
    - Taxonomic Hierarchy: The arrangement of various taxa in a hierarchical order is
    called taxonomic hierarchy.
    - The hierarchy indicates different levels of relatedness among organisms.
    - The number of similar characters decreases from the lowest rank to the highest
    rank.
    - The hierarchical system of classification was introduced by Linnaeus.

    Taxonomic Hierarchy
    - Major Categories:
    - Species → Genus → Family → Order → Class → Phylum/Division) → Kingdom

    (- Increasing Specificity → Decreasing Specificity)

    Classification Examples

    Name Kingdom Phylum/Division Class Order Family Genus Species

    Animal: Animalia Chordata Insecta Diptera Muscidae Musca domestica


    Housefly

    Plant: Plantae Angiospermae Monocotyledonae Poales Poaceae Triticum aestivum


    Wheat

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