Biodiversity, classification, micro-organisms.
Key
Key words
Definitions
Examples
Explanations
Scientific names
Important to note
Definitions / Terminology
Biodiversity variety of living organisms on Earth
Biotic factors living organisms present in an ecosystem
Abiotic factors non-living factors present in an ecosystem
Consumers organisms that consume other organisms as they cannot
produce their own food
Decomposers organisms that consume decaying matter and return nutrient to
the environment
Eukaryotes organisms that have a true nucleus
Prokaryotes organisms that do not have a true nucleus and organelles
Heterotrophs organisms that cannot produce their own food
Taxa categories of living organisms in classification hierarchy
Pathogens disease-causing microbes
Parasites organisms that feed off of other organisms and harm them
Saprotrophic organisms that consume dead organic matter
Biotechnology use of micro-organisms to produce useful substances
, Biodiversity
1. Genetic diversity:
Differences within species as a result of genes.
Allows species to adapt to survive.
Different types of cats.
2. Species diversity:
Variety of living organisms in a certain area.
All the Bison found in Yellowstone National Park.
3. Ecosystem diversity:
Number of different ecosystems in an area.
Classification
Carolus Linnaeus devised a classification system where organisms are grouped
according to similar characteristics into taxa.
Living organisms are named using the genus
and species (binomial nomenclature).
An uppercase letter is used for the genus
name and a lowercase letter is used for
the species. The whole scientific name is
underlined.
This way of naming organisms shows relationships between species more effectively
than common names. Latin is used as it was the scientific language and it does not
evolve which makes it ideal for naming organisms.
Five Kingdoms
Kingdom Structure Nutrition Reproduction Examples
Prokaryotic; simple; Chemosynthetic / Single cell Bacteria
single-celled photosynthetic / division / binary
Monera
parasitic fission / form
spores
Eukaryotic; simple; Autotrophic / Asexual / sexual Amoeba,
Protista single-celled / saprotrophic / algae
multicellular heterotrophic
Eukaryotic; Parasitic / Budding / sexual / Mushrooms,
Fungi multicellular; cell walls saprotrophic asexual (spores) mould
of chitin
Eukaryotic; Photosynthetic Asexual (spores) / Trees,
Plantae multicellular; with cell sexual (gametes) grasses
walls of cellulose
Eukaryotic; without Heterotrophic Asexual / sexual Snakes, birds,
Animalia
cell walls; multicellular (gametes) humans
Key
Key words
Definitions
Examples
Explanations
Scientific names
Important to note
Definitions / Terminology
Biodiversity variety of living organisms on Earth
Biotic factors living organisms present in an ecosystem
Abiotic factors non-living factors present in an ecosystem
Consumers organisms that consume other organisms as they cannot
produce their own food
Decomposers organisms that consume decaying matter and return nutrient to
the environment
Eukaryotes organisms that have a true nucleus
Prokaryotes organisms that do not have a true nucleus and organelles
Heterotrophs organisms that cannot produce their own food
Taxa categories of living organisms in classification hierarchy
Pathogens disease-causing microbes
Parasites organisms that feed off of other organisms and harm them
Saprotrophic organisms that consume dead organic matter
Biotechnology use of micro-organisms to produce useful substances
, Biodiversity
1. Genetic diversity:
Differences within species as a result of genes.
Allows species to adapt to survive.
Different types of cats.
2. Species diversity:
Variety of living organisms in a certain area.
All the Bison found in Yellowstone National Park.
3. Ecosystem diversity:
Number of different ecosystems in an area.
Classification
Carolus Linnaeus devised a classification system where organisms are grouped
according to similar characteristics into taxa.
Living organisms are named using the genus
and species (binomial nomenclature).
An uppercase letter is used for the genus
name and a lowercase letter is used for
the species. The whole scientific name is
underlined.
This way of naming organisms shows relationships between species more effectively
than common names. Latin is used as it was the scientific language and it does not
evolve which makes it ideal for naming organisms.
Five Kingdoms
Kingdom Structure Nutrition Reproduction Examples
Prokaryotic; simple; Chemosynthetic / Single cell Bacteria
single-celled photosynthetic / division / binary
Monera
parasitic fission / form
spores
Eukaryotic; simple; Autotrophic / Asexual / sexual Amoeba,
Protista single-celled / saprotrophic / algae
multicellular heterotrophic
Eukaryotic; Parasitic / Budding / sexual / Mushrooms,
Fungi multicellular; cell walls saprotrophic asexual (spores) mould
of chitin
Eukaryotic; Photosynthetic Asexual (spores) / Trees,
Plantae multicellular; with cell sexual (gametes) grasses
walls of cellulose
Eukaryotic; without Heterotrophic Asexual / sexual Snakes, birds,
Animalia
cell walls; multicellular (gametes) humans
