Table of Contents
What is Diversity in Living Organisms?
Diversity in living organisms refers to the variation in the characteristics of life forms on Earth. This variation includes the diversity of genes, species, and ecosystems.
Genetic diversity is the variation in DNA within a species. This variation can be due to differences in the sequence of DNA, the number of copies of a gene, or the location of a gene on a chromosome. Genetic diversity is necessary for a species to adapt to changes in its environment.
Species diversity is the variation in the number of species in an ecosystem. A species is a group of organisms that can interbreed and produce fertile offspring. However ecosystem diversity is the variation in the number of ecosystems on Earth. An ecosystem is a community of living things and the environment in which they live.
Diversity is important for the stability of ecosystems. However if all the members of an ecosystem are the same, they would be unable to adapt to changes in the environment. Therefore this could lead to the extinction of the species in the ecosystem.
Introduction to Diversity in Living Organisms
Living organisms are classified into five kingdoms based on their similarities and differences. The five kingdoms are Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and also Animalia.
- Each kingdom is divided into smaller groups, called phyla. The phylum is the largest group that contains animals with a similar body plan.
- There are over 30 phyla of animals. Animals are classified into phyla based on their body plan, which is the overall shape of their body.
- There are 9 phyla of invertebrates, which are animals without a backbone. There are 3 phyla of vertebrates, which are animals with a backbone.
- The most common phyla of animals are the vertebrates, which include fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and mammals.
- The most common phyla of invertebrates are the arthropods, which include insects, crustaceans, and also the spiders.
Biological Classification
The biological classification of an organism is a system used to group and categorize organisms based on their physical and genetic similarities. The system is hierarchical, meaning that organisms are grouped into larger and more general categories, which are then divided into smaller and more specific categories. The three main levels of the biological classification system are kingdom, phylum, and species.
Organisms are first grouped into kingdoms, which are the largest and most general categories. Kingdoms are divided into phyla, which are groups of organisms that share a common physical characteristic, such as having a backbone. Phyla divided into classes, which are groups of organisms that share a common genetic characteristic, such as having two sets of chromosomes. Classes divided into orders, which are groups of organisms that share a common characteristic, such as being able to produce eggs. Orders are divided into families, which are groups of organisms that share a common characteristic, such as being able to produce sperm. Families divided into genera, which are groups of organisms that share a common characteristic, such as having a certain type of skeleton. Genera divided into species, which are the smallest and most specific category.
Organisms can classified at any level of the system, depending on how much information is known about them. For example, if only the kingdom is known, the organism classified as a kingdom level organism. If only the genus and species are known, the organism classified as a species level
Classification System
The classification system is a way of organizing things into groups. This can done with anything, from animals to plants to rocks. Therefore the most common way of classifying things is by their species. This means that all things in a group have the same characteristics. For example, all lions are classified as the species Panthera leo.
Two Kingdom Classification
- Domain Kingdom
- Eukarya
- Animalia
- Plantae
- Fungi
- Prokarya
- Bacteria
- Also archaea
Five Kingdom Classification
- The five kingdom classification is a system that organizes living things into five categories based on their physical characteristics and the way that they reproduce. Therefore the five kingdoms are bacteria, protozoa, fungi, plants, and animals.
- Bacteria single-celled organisms that do not have a nucleus or any other organelles. They reproduce by splitting in two, and also they can only survive in very harsh conditions.
- Protozoa single-celled organisms that have a nucleus and other organelles. Therefore they reproduce by splitting in two, and they can survive in a variety of conditions.
- Fungi are multi-cellular organisms that do not have a nucleus or other organelles. They reproduce by spores, and also they can survive in a variety of conditions.
- Plants are multi-cellular organisms that have a nucleus and other organelles. They reproduce by seeds, and also they can survive in a variety of conditions.
- Animals are multi-cellular organisms that have a nucleus and other organelles. They reproduce by eggs, and also they can survive in a variety of conditions.
Characteristics of Five Kingdom
Classification
The five kingdom classification system is a way of organizing living things into five categories based on their physical characteristics and the way they interact with their environment. The five kingdoms are plants, animals, protists, fungi, and also include bacteria.
Therefore plants are the first kingdom and characterized by their ability to photosynthesize, or produce their own food. Animals the second kingdom and characterized by their ability to move around and eat other things. Protists are the third kingdom and a group of organisms that not easily classified into the other kingdoms. Fungi are the fourth kingdom and characterized by their ability to grow and spread by releasing spores. However bacteria are the fifth kingdom and are unicellular organisms that are very small.
Classification Hierarchy
Domain > Kingdom > Phylum > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species
Domain: The highest level of classification is the domain. The domain divided into three kingdoms: Animalia, Plantae, and also includes Fungi.
Kingdom: The kingdom the second level of classification and divided into Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi. Animalia divided into phyla, Plantae divided into classes, and Fungi divided into orders.
Phylum: The phylum the third level of classification and divided into Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi. Animalia divided into subphyla, Plantae divided into divisions, and Fungi divided into suborders.
Class: The class the fourth level of classification and divided into Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi. Animalia divided into orders, Plantae divided into families, and Fungi divided into genera.
Order: The order the fifth level of classification and divided into Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi. Animalia divided into families, Plantae divided into genera, and Fungi divided into species.
Family: The family the sixth level of classification and divided into Animalia, Plantae, and Fungi. Animalia divided into genera, Plantae divided
Classification and Evolution
There are over 1,500 species of cicadas. They placed in the order Hemiptera, which also includes aphids, cicadas, and leafhoppers.
Cicadas thought to have evolved from a common ancestor with leafhoppers. Therefore cicadas thought to have appeared in the Early Cretaceous period, about 130 million years ago.
