Images:
wikipedia.org
animaldanger.com
rainbowtreecare.com
italianfoodnet.com
newworldencyclopedia.org
Information:
wikipedia.org
http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/glossary/gloss8/monocotdicot.html
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/reproduction-in-algae.html
pangea.tec.selu.edu/~cmcnabb/etec645/protist2.html
http://www.bacteriamuseum.org/cms/Evolution/eubacteria-and-archaebacteria-the-oldest-forms-of-life.html
AP Biology Book:
Freeman, S. (2005). Biological Science (2nd ed.). San Francisco: Pearson/Benjamin Cummings.
Animalia Classes-Subphylum Vertebrata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Description: Vertebrates are a diverse group of animals that share a common trait: a vertebral column, which runs from their head to their tail bone and is the basis for the rest of the body's skeletal structure. This skeletal structure, in turn, supports a number of other common features. For example, vertebrates possess multiple layers of skin or other external structures that cover their innards (such as scales) and a very advanced muscular structure. Almost all vertebrates reproduce sexually, like other animals, but their methods of sexual reproduction vary: some lay eggs, others give birth to offspring directly. Vertebrates are actually a very varied subphylum.
Example: A crocodile, a common reptilian vertebrate that populates many habitats
Picture taken from: animaldanger.com
Class Myxini
Description: Members of class Myxini possess a very interesting structure: they possess no spinal column or bone structure outside a skull and tailbone, which leads to some of the most bizarre looking creatures in existence. Many also have the capacity to produce slime as an escape mechanism, allowing them to slip away from the jaws or claws of predators. Little is known about their reproductive tendencies, as most members of class Myxini seem to be female, but researchers are beginning to find evidence that they may be hermaphroditic.
Example:
Pacific hagfish, a common member of class Myxini that is consumed by many people in Korea as a delicacy.
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Cephalospidomorphi
Description: The class cephalospidomorphi is commonly distinguished by jawlessness, coupled with an incredibly large "nasal cavity" that runs throughout their body. This body structure lends itself to a funnel structure, which aids members of cephalospidomorphi in sucking parasitically off of larger host organisms. There is only one member of class cephalospidomorphi: the lamprey. Its reproduction methods, like those of members of class Myxini, are still unknown to researchers.
Example:
Example: A lamprey, the only member of class cephalospidomorphi. Note the rows of teeth and lack of a jaw structure.
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Chondricthyes
Description: Members of class Chondrichthyes are cartilaginous organisms. They are jawed, and possess fins and tails for rapid acceleration through water. Most members of the class are aquatic hunters, who hunt fish and other members of their class. Another unique trait to Chondricthytes is a very powerful sense of smell, which aids them in the capture of their prey, as well as sensory organs that allow them notice changes in water pressure.
Example:
The Great White Shark, a well known chondrichthyte that is an impressive underwater predator
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Osteichthyes
Description: Osteichthytes are a group of organisms termed "bony fish" that are separated into two classes: ray finned fish and lobe finned fish. Most fish are osteichthytes, and since there are many species of fish, they make up the largest class of vertebrates. They are aquatic organisms that focus on efficient swimming and catching prey and other food sources that are located in their watery habitats, and osteichthytes have developed many unique adaptations for swimming, such as mechanisms to control their temperature. Some are cold-blooded and adjust to the temperature of the water, while others can keep their bodies temperature in homeostasis.
Example:
Xiphias gladius, or the swordfish, is a bony fish renowned for its high speed and distinctive sword-like beak
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Amphibia
Description: Amphibians are a diverse group of vertebrates that contain several groups of organisms that appear dissimilar: frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. The main unique feature of this class is that they metamorphose from a juvenile, water dwelling form as they mature, eventually becoming an organism that lives on land and in the water. This change from water-breathing to air-breathing as life progresses marks amphibians as unique.
Example:
The strawberry poison dart frog, Oophaga pumilio. Many amphibians utilize poison as a natural defense mechanism against predators.
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Reptilia
Description: Class Reptilia is a division of vertebrates that consists scaly, cold-blooded predatory animals. In the past, they dominated the world as its most prominent organism in the time of the dinosaurs, but many of them were driven to extinction 65 million years ago, and they have since entered a steady decline. Reptiles reproduce by laying eggs, and there are species that are entirely aquatic as well as species that live on land.
Example:
An African egg-eating snake, a type of reptile that preys on the offspring of other animals
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Aves
Description: Class Aves denotes a well known type of vertebrate, which humans refer to as birds. These vertebrates are distinguished by their hollow bones and wings which typically allow flight. Birds also typically have a very high metabolic rate, and need to constantly eat to fuel their high energy requirements. Members of Class Aves also demonstrate a high amount of intelligence, using simple tools and communicating with each other in a cultural context.
Example:
A Red Lory, a playful bird commonly kept in captivity.
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Mammalia
Description: Mammals are air-breathing vertebrates that are unique in that they possess hair, mammary glands, and a neocortex, which is a special part of the brain that can, in the case of humans, grant higher thought and language skills. Mammals also have sweat glands, as well as specialized teeth not exhibited in other classes of vertebrates. Mammals have a large degree of variation of size and ecological niche, and the class contains everything from small bats to huge blue whales.
Example:
A family of goats, quadrupeds raised by humans for agricultural purposes
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Description: Vertebrates are a diverse group of animals that share a common trait: a vertebral column, which runs from their head to their tail bone and is the basis for the rest of the body's skeletal structure. This skeletal structure, in turn, supports a number of other common features. For example, vertebrates possess multiple layers of skin or other external structures that cover their innards (such as scales) and a very advanced muscular structure. Almost all vertebrates reproduce sexually, like other animals, but their methods of sexual reproduction vary: some lay eggs, others give birth to offspring directly. Vertebrates are actually a very varied subphylum.
Picture taken from: animaldanger.com
Class Myxini
Description: Members of class Myxini possess a very interesting structure: they possess no spinal column or bone structure outside a skull and tailbone, which leads to some of the most bizarre looking creatures in existence. Many also have the capacity to produce slime as an escape mechanism, allowing them to slip away from the jaws or claws of predators. Little is known about their reproductive tendencies, as most members of class Myxini seem to be female, but researchers are beginning to find evidence that they may be hermaphroditic.
Example:
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Cephalospidomorphi
Description: The class cephalospidomorphi is commonly distinguished by jawlessness, coupled with an incredibly large "nasal cavity" that runs throughout their body. This body structure lends itself to a funnel structure, which aids members of cephalospidomorphi in sucking parasitically off of larger host organisms. There is only one member of class cephalospidomorphi: the lamprey. Its reproduction methods, like those of members of class Myxini, are still unknown to researchers.
Example:
Example: A lamprey, the only member of class cephalospidomorphi. Note the rows of teeth and lack of a jaw structure.
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Chondricthyes
Description: Members of class Chondrichthyes are cartilaginous organisms. They are jawed, and possess fins and tails for rapid acceleration through water. Most members of the class are aquatic hunters, who hunt fish and other members of their class. Another unique trait to Chondricthytes is a very powerful sense of smell, which aids them in the capture of their prey, as well as sensory organs that allow them notice changes in water pressure.
Example:
The Great White Shark, a well known chondrichthyte that is an impressive underwater predator
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Osteichthyes
Description: Osteichthytes are a group of organisms termed "bony fish" that are separated into two classes: ray finned fish and lobe finned fish. Most fish are osteichthytes, and since there are many species of fish, they make up the largest class of vertebrates. They are aquatic organisms that focus on efficient swimming and catching prey and other food sources that are located in their watery habitats, and osteichthytes have developed many unique adaptations for swimming, such as mechanisms to control their temperature. Some are cold-blooded and adjust to the temperature of the water, while others can keep their bodies temperature in homeostasis.
Example:
Xiphias gladius, or the swordfish, is a bony fish renowned for its high speed and distinctive sword-like beakTaken from: wikipedia.org
Class Amphibia
Description: Amphibians are a diverse group of vertebrates that contain several groups of organisms that appear dissimilar: frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. The main unique feature of this class is that they metamorphose from a juvenile, water dwelling form as they mature, eventually becoming an organism that lives on land and in the water. This change from water-breathing to air-breathing as life progresses marks amphibians as unique.
Example:
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Reptilia
Description: Class Reptilia is a division of vertebrates that consists scaly, cold-blooded predatory animals. In the past, they dominated the world as its most prominent organism in the time of the dinosaurs, but many of them were driven to extinction 65 million years ago, and they have since entered a steady decline. Reptiles reproduce by laying eggs, and there are species that are entirely aquatic as well as species that live on land.
Example:
An African egg-eating snake, a type of reptile that preys on the offspring of other animals
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Aves
Description: Class Aves denotes a well known type of vertebrate, which humans refer to as birds. These vertebrates are distinguished by their hollow bones and wings which typically allow flight. Birds also typically have a very high metabolic rate, and need to constantly eat to fuel their high energy requirements. Members of Class Aves also demonstrate a high amount of intelligence, using simple tools and communicating with each other in a cultural context.
Example:
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Class Mammalia
Description: Mammals are air-breathing vertebrates that are unique in that they possess hair, mammary glands, and a neocortex, which is a special part of the brain that can, in the case of humans, grant higher thought and language skills. Mammals also have sweat glands, as well as specialized teeth not exhibited in other classes of vertebrates. Mammals have a large degree of variation of size and ecological niche, and the class contains everything from small bats to huge blue whales.
Example:
Taken from: wikipedia.org
Animalia Phyla
Phylum Echinodermata
Description: Organisms within the phylum Echinodermata are animals found deep within the ocean, from the intertidal to abyssal zone. Echinoderms are remarkable because of two notable factors: their relative abundance despite hostile conditions deep within the ocean, and their hardened exterior skeletons which offer them protection and allow them to cling to hard, rocky surfaces. These spines and skeletons sometimes pose a health risk to humans and other predators, who can be harmed by the rigidity of the echinoderm’s body.
An example of an echinoderm is a Red-knobbed starfish. A starfish is a common echinoderm that is considered very aesthetically pleasing, and is even occasionally used for decoration by humans. The Red-knobbed variety is found within the Indian Ocean.
Picture taken from: newworldencyclopedia.org
Phylum Mollusca
Description: Molluscs, or organisms belonging to the phylum Mollusca, are the largest group of marine organisms in existence, consisting of 23% of all marine organisms currently known. They are highly diverse in structure, environment, behavior, and habit. The phylum’s sheer size creates a large variation between organisms. One trait common to most molluscs is the presence of a body cavity, used for breathing and exretion.
An example of a mollusc would be a blue ringed octopus, a small mollusc known for its potent venom, which is strong enough to kill a human. The large cavity inside the head of the octopus functions as its mantle.
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Phylum Arthropoda
Description: Arthropods are a phylum that contains more than 80% of all living animal species. They are invertebrates that possess segmented bodies, characterized by appendages which are paired with each segment. Arthropods possess amazing versatility, and scientists attribute their success as a phylum largely to their unique body plan.
Example: The Asian Forest Scorpion, an arachnid, is a member of phylum Arthropoda. The arachnid possesses weak venom that is not capable of killing humans, though other members of its species possess that capability. Scorpions exemplify the diversity found in arthropods: they are found over all continents except in Antarctica, and enjoy great success as predators of insects and small mammals.
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Kingdom Animalia
Body Plan: All animals are multicellular organisms, with highly differentiated tissues that become more complex as the animal matures from the embryonic stage to maturity.
Divergent Event: Animals most likely evolved from a flagellated eukaryotic organism, which became differentiated from organisms similar to it due to the position of its flagellum, and became more complex over millions of years, eventually forming the first sponges, which are a primitive type of animal organism.
Metabolism: All animals are heterotrophs, and ingest other organisms to gain sustenance. Specifically, carbon compounds are digested through cellular respiration, which takes in oxygen and releases carbon dioxide.
Digestion: Some animals possess intracellular digestion, such as jellyfish, hydra and corals. Extracellular digestion takes place in animals such as humans, who use enzymes to digest materials and then absorb them directly into the body's cells.
Circulation: Animals that are vertebrates possess a closed circulatory system, in which blood circulates throughout the body. An animal’s heart is a chunk of muscular tissue that expands and contracts to pump blood through its veins.
Respiration: Different types of animals possess different types of respiratory systems. Aquatic animals possess gills, while land animals possess lungs, and still others possess both. Furthermore, all animals undergo cellular respiration to release carbon dioxide and produce ATP.
Nervous: Animals possess both a brain and ganglia that accompany it, which make up their nervous systems. Common parts of animal brains include the cerebellum, prefrontal cortex, and the hippocampus.
Reproduction: Animals engage in both sexual and asexual reproduction. Dogs, for example, are bred through sexual reproduction, but there are also some species that undergo parthogenesis (self-fertilization of egg cells by a female), such as the whiptail lizard, a species entirely composes of females.
Examples: Humans, or Homo sapiens, are a prime example of animals. We are complex, two legged vertebrates that consume other organisms to gain energy, like other animals.
Phylum Anthophyta Classes
Monocotyledonae
Description: Monocots are unique in that they possess only one nutrient storage location within their bodies, known as the cotyledon, which is located at the plant's base. This is incorporated with a taproot, which branches off into hundreds of smaller roots for easy mineral extraction, and then stored in the cotyledon, which in turn transports it up the plants stems through numerous vascular tissues.
Example:
A lily, or Lilium bulbiferum, is a monocot, as evidenced by its long stem and taproot
Dicotyledonae
Description: Dicots are, as the name suggests, quite similar to monocots in structure. They possess two cotyledons rather than one, however, which gives them a few differences: they have branching veins rather than straight ones, because there is no need for their veins to run in parallel. In addition, the vascular tissues of Dicots are arranged in a circular pattern. Typically, their flowers possess petals or sepals that grow in fives.
Example:
Ruellia caroliniensis, a flower in the bean family. Note the 5 petals and 4 anthers.
Description: Monocots are unique in that they possess only one nutrient storage location within their bodies, known as the cotyledon, which is located at the plant's base. This is incorporated with a taproot, which branches off into hundreds of smaller roots for easy mineral extraction, and then stored in the cotyledon, which in turn transports it up the plants stems through numerous vascular tissues.
Example:
A lily, or Lilium bulbiferum, is a monocot, as evidenced by its long stem and taproot
Dicotyledonae
Description: Dicots are, as the name suggests, quite similar to monocots in structure. They possess two cotyledons rather than one, however, which gives them a few differences: they have branching veins rather than straight ones, because there is no need for their veins to run in parallel. In addition, the vascular tissues of Dicots are arranged in a circular pattern. Typically, their flowers possess petals or sepals that grow in fives.
Example:
Plantae Phyla
Phylum Bryophyta:
Description: Bryophytes are non-vascular land plants, unique in that they possess tissues and enclosed reproductive systems, but they have no vascular tissue to circulate liquids, and are therefore limited in size. They do not reproduce by creating flowers or seeds, like many plants, but instead spread spores in a manner similar to fungi. The spores are generated through sexual reproduction: gametes fuse to form a zygote, which forms an embryo that is then launched from the plant.
Environment: Bryophytes are usually found in aquatic environments attached to the sea floor, or on the forest floor or ground.
Example:
Marchantia polymorpha is a type of liver wort, a common group of bryophytes similar to moss. Note its small size and tiny height.
Picture taken from wikipedia.org
Phylum Coniferophyta
Description: Conifers are cone-bearing plants with vascular tissues that form large, hardy trees. They are an incredibly successful phylum, with conifers being the dominant plant type in the world's entire northern hemisphere, and are very resistant to cold climates. Conifers reproduce sexually, with fertilized seeds falling to the ground until they meet conditions suitable to sprout and grow. All conifers are woody, and many are used for construction materials by humans or homes for animals.
Environment: Conifers are typically found in boreal forests, where they make up most of the biomass.
Example:
The redwood, or Sequioandrenon giganteum, is the largest tree in the world in cubic feet. Its sheer size has staggered humans for millennia.
Picture taken from wikipedia.org
Description: Bryophytes are non-vascular land plants, unique in that they possess tissues and enclosed reproductive systems, but they have no vascular tissue to circulate liquids, and are therefore limited in size. They do not reproduce by creating flowers or seeds, like many plants, but instead spread spores in a manner similar to fungi. The spores are generated through sexual reproduction: gametes fuse to form a zygote, which forms an embryo that is then launched from the plant.
Environment: Bryophytes are usually found in aquatic environments attached to the sea floor, or on the forest floor or ground.
Example:
Picture taken from wikipedia.org
Phylum Coniferophyta
Description: Conifers are cone-bearing plants with vascular tissues that form large, hardy trees. They are an incredibly successful phylum, with conifers being the dominant plant type in the world's entire northern hemisphere, and are very resistant to cold climates. Conifers reproduce sexually, with fertilized seeds falling to the ground until they meet conditions suitable to sprout and grow. All conifers are woody, and many are used for construction materials by humans or homes for animals.
Environment: Conifers are typically found in boreal forests, where they make up most of the biomass.
Example:
Picture taken from wikipedia.org
Kingdom Plantae
Description- Plants are a kingdom of organisms that includes trees, herbs, bushes, mosses, ferns, and more. They are generally stationary, and many plants get their energy from the light of the sun. Land plants also receive a large percentage of their nutrients from the soil, and reproduce through flowering, or spreading their pollen to other members of the species. Plants are a very common organism on the earth’s surface, and make up a significant percentage of the biomass.
Body Plan- Plants are multicellular, being complex eukaryotes that have many intracellular organelles and specialized tissues.
Divergent Event- Plants are descendants of the first eukaryotes, which evolved from prokaryotes about 1-2.5 billion years ago. The photosynthetic properties of plants result from traits that were originally acquired through endosymbiosis, with eukaryotes engulfing simpler photosynthetic organisms which eventually became the organelles that plants possess today
Metabolism-Plants are autotrophic in general, but there exist a few exceptions to this rule: Venus flytraps, for example, supplement their photosynthetic nutrition by consuming other organisms. An example of an autotrophic plant would be grass.
Digestion-Digestion in plants is extracellular.
Circulation- Vascular plants possess structures called the xylem and phloem, which transport water and nutrients from the plant’s leaves to its roots. Together, these structures make up the plant’s vein, which acts as its circulatory system.
Respiration- Plants perform cell respiration, which releases oxygen, but possess no respiratory organs.
Nervous system-Plant possess no nervous system
Reproduction-Plant can reproduce asexually and sexually. An example of sexual reproduction would be pollination, while an example of asexual reproduction is the binary fission that algae perform when reproducing.
Examples- Microsorum pteropus is a common fern used in many aquariums due to its small size and pleasing appearance.
Protista Phyla
Phylum Ciliophora
Description: Ciliates, or members of phylum Ciliophora, are typically characterized by their abundance of the hair-like organelles known as cilia, which are similar to flagella and facilitate movement of organisms. Ciliates use cilia to swim, crawl, attach to various surfaces, feed, and feel their environment. Their unique reliance on cilia distinguish them from other phyla of protists. Ciliates also tend to be quite large, approaching 2 mm in length, which is very big for a protist.
Type: Ciliates are animal-like protist, as they digest organic compounds from the environment.
Example:
Stentor roeseli is a member of the well known genus Stentor, which contains some of the biggest unicellular organisms. It possesses many cilia around the opening of its "bell" at the top of the organism.
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Phylum Rhodophyta
Description: Phylum Rhodophyta makes up one of the oldest groups of algae known to man, and contains within it not just algae, but many seaweeds as well. The phylum is distinguished by its lack of flagella and centrioles, and its use of phycobiliproteins as an accessory pigment, which gives it a reddish tinge that has caused people to call it "red algae". Members of rhodophyta possess chloroplasts, but their thylakoids are not stacked in grana like those of plants. Rhodophyta are macroscopic, and reproduce sexually by fusion of diploid cells.
Type: Rhodophytes are plant-like protists that possess chloroplasts and are autotrophic.
Example:
Palmaria palmata, or dulse, is a red algae eaten by many people in coastal communities and nations, and is a very healthy source of protein
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Phylum Chlorophyta
Description: Members of phylum Chlorophyta are considered part of a larger group known as green algae, which contain green pigments like land plants and undergo photosynthesis. Chlorophytic protists possess both chlorophyll a and b, and are generally found in bodies of fresh water. Of note is their ability to live symbiotically with other organisms: some chlorophytes form unions with fungi to produce lichens, and others live within other protists like parameciums.
Type: Chlorophytes are plant-like protists that possess chloroplasts and are autotrophic.
Example:
Chlamydomonas nivalis, a type of chlorophyte that forms a phenomenum called "watermelon snow" in which its secondary carotenoid pigment turns falling snow a pinkish red color that smells of watermelon.
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Description: Ciliates, or members of phylum Ciliophora, are typically characterized by their abundance of the hair-like organelles known as cilia, which are similar to flagella and facilitate movement of organisms. Ciliates use cilia to swim, crawl, attach to various surfaces, feed, and feel their environment. Their unique reliance on cilia distinguish them from other phyla of protists. Ciliates also tend to be quite large, approaching 2 mm in length, which is very big for a protist.
Type: Ciliates are animal-like protist, as they digest organic compounds from the environment.
Example:
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Phylum Rhodophyta
Description: Phylum Rhodophyta makes up one of the oldest groups of algae known to man, and contains within it not just algae, but many seaweeds as well. The phylum is distinguished by its lack of flagella and centrioles, and its use of phycobiliproteins as an accessory pigment, which gives it a reddish tinge that has caused people to call it "red algae". Members of rhodophyta possess chloroplasts, but their thylakoids are not stacked in grana like those of plants. Rhodophyta are macroscopic, and reproduce sexually by fusion of diploid cells.
Type: Rhodophytes are plant-like protists that possess chloroplasts and are autotrophic.
Example:
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Phylum Chlorophyta
Description: Members of phylum Chlorophyta are considered part of a larger group known as green algae, which contain green pigments like land plants and undergo photosynthesis. Chlorophytic protists possess both chlorophyll a and b, and are generally found in bodies of fresh water. Of note is their ability to live symbiotically with other organisms: some chlorophytes form unions with fungi to produce lichens, and others live within other protists like parameciums.
Type: Chlorophytes are plant-like protists that possess chloroplasts and are autotrophic.
Example:
Picture taken from: wikipedia.org
Kingdom Protista
Description-Protists are a group of eukaryotic microorganisms that live in environments that contain liquid waiter. They are considered more complex than archaebacteria and eubacteria, but are still very simplistic compared to fungi, animals, and plants. Protists function as primary producers in many aquatic ecosystems.
Body Plan-Protists are both unicellular and multicellular, but even multicellular protists lack specialized tissues that typically distinguish a complex eukaryotic organism. A unicellular protist that is very commonly known is a cilate, which is a protist that possesses a flagella and is found in almost every body of water. An example of a multicellular protist would be a colony of algae.
Divergent Event-Protists possesses a very old evolutionary lineage. The first protists are suspected to have come about over 2 billion years ago, through a process of endosymbiosis in which larger unicellular prokaryotes engulfed smaller ones, which eventually led to a new type of organism being created entirely.
Metabolism-Protists are both autotrophic and heterotrophic, due to the wide range of structural forms the organisms possess. An example of autotrophic protists would be algae, which are photosynthetic plant-like organisms, and an example of heterotrophic protists are amoebas, which engulf organic compounds and digest them.
Digestion-Most protists possess intracellular digestion, but some animal-like ones possess extracellular digestive systems. These animal-like protists have complete digestive systems, as they dissolve complex organic compounds.
Circulation-Protists possess no circulatory system
Respiration-Protists possess no respiratory system
Nervous-Protists possess no nervous system
Reproduction-Protists can reproduce sexually or asexually. Algae, for example, reproduce sexually by fusing two diploid sex cells, but they can also reproduce by mitotic division.
Examples-Water molds, unicellular protists responsible for the devastation of many plant crops, causing diseases such as potato blight
Trypanosomatids, exclusively parasitic protists found in insects that cause sleeping sickness in humans when they enter the bloodstream
Body Plan-Protists are both unicellular and multicellular, but even multicellular protists lack specialized tissues that typically distinguish a complex eukaryotic organism. A unicellular protist that is very commonly known is a cilate, which is a protist that possesses a flagella and is found in almost every body of water. An example of a multicellular protist would be a colony of algae.
Divergent Event-Protists possesses a very old evolutionary lineage. The first protists are suspected to have come about over 2 billion years ago, through a process of endosymbiosis in which larger unicellular prokaryotes engulfed smaller ones, which eventually led to a new type of organism being created entirely.
Metabolism-Protists are both autotrophic and heterotrophic, due to the wide range of structural forms the organisms possess. An example of autotrophic protists would be algae, which are photosynthetic plant-like organisms, and an example of heterotrophic protists are amoebas, which engulf organic compounds and digest them.
Digestion-Most protists possess intracellular digestion, but some animal-like ones possess extracellular digestive systems. These animal-like protists have complete digestive systems, as they dissolve complex organic compounds.
Circulation-Protists possess no circulatory system
Respiration-Protists possess no respiratory system
Nervous-Protists possess no nervous system
Reproduction-Protists can reproduce sexually or asexually. Algae, for example, reproduce sexually by fusing two diploid sex cells, but they can also reproduce by mitotic division.
Examples-Water molds, unicellular protists responsible for the devastation of many plant crops, causing diseases such as potato blight
Trypanosomatids, exclusively parasitic protists found in insects that cause sleeping sickness in humans when they enter the bloodstream
Fungi Phyla
Phylum Basidiomycota
Description: Phylum Basidiomycota is one of the two phylum of Kingdom Fungi that contains "higher" fungi, which generally tend to be more complex than members of other fungal phyla. Basidiomycota make up 37% of all existing fungi, and their defining feature is the basidium, a group of club-shaped end cells that contain 4 basidiospores that aid them in sexual reproduction. This formation allows members of phylum Basidiomycota to reproduce both sexually and asexually. The abundance of basidiomycotic fungi, coupled with their decomposition capabilities, make them an important part of the carbon cycle
Commercial Importance: Mushrooms are a member of phylum Basidiomycota, and their culinary importance to humans is quite significant: many ancient cultures consumed members of this phylum in order to survive, and today some mushrooms cost as much as $2000 a pound due to their epicurean value.
Example:
Black truffles used for culinary purposes in Italy
Picture taken from: italianfoodnet.com
Phylum Ascomycota
Description: Phylum Ascomycota is the largest phylum of fungi, with 64,000 species being identified as ascomycotic. Members of Ascomycota are distinguished by possessing an "ascus" or sac, which is a microscopic sexual structure that forms ascospores which aid in sexual reproduction. Some members of the phylum, however, do not reproduce sexually. Like phylum Basidiomycota, both types of reproduction occur within the group. Ascomycotic fungi are very versatile: they can spread spores and grow even in very harsh conditions.
Commercial Importance: Phylum Ascomycota contains fungi known as Venturia inaequalis, which causes the commonly known apple tree disease known as apple scab, leading to reduced crop yield and unpleasant fungal lesions on apples. There are many examples of ascomycotic fungi being harmful to human crops, and there are many fewer edible fungi within the phylum compared to phylum Basidiomycota.
Example:
Apple scab affecting a Granny Smith apple, which is commonly purchased and consumed by US customers
Picture taken from: rainbowtreecare.com
Description: Phylum Basidiomycota is one of the two phylum of Kingdom Fungi that contains "higher" fungi, which generally tend to be more complex than members of other fungal phyla. Basidiomycota make up 37% of all existing fungi, and their defining feature is the basidium, a group of club-shaped end cells that contain 4 basidiospores that aid them in sexual reproduction. This formation allows members of phylum Basidiomycota to reproduce both sexually and asexually. The abundance of basidiomycotic fungi, coupled with their decomposition capabilities, make them an important part of the carbon cycle
Commercial Importance: Mushrooms are a member of phylum Basidiomycota, and their culinary importance to humans is quite significant: many ancient cultures consumed members of this phylum in order to survive, and today some mushrooms cost as much as $2000 a pound due to their epicurean value.
Example:
Black truffles used for culinary purposes in Italy
Picture taken from: italianfoodnet.com
Phylum Ascomycota
Description: Phylum Ascomycota is the largest phylum of fungi, with 64,000 species being identified as ascomycotic. Members of Ascomycota are distinguished by possessing an "ascus" or sac, which is a microscopic sexual structure that forms ascospores which aid in sexual reproduction. Some members of the phylum, however, do not reproduce sexually. Like phylum Basidiomycota, both types of reproduction occur within the group. Ascomycotic fungi are very versatile: they can spread spores and grow even in very harsh conditions.
Commercial Importance: Phylum Ascomycota contains fungi known as Venturia inaequalis, which causes the commonly known apple tree disease known as apple scab, leading to reduced crop yield and unpleasant fungal lesions on apples. There are many examples of ascomycotic fungi being harmful to human crops, and there are many fewer edible fungi within the phylum compared to phylum Basidiomycota.
Example:
Picture taken from: rainbowtreecare.com
Kingdom Fungi
Description-Fungi are a kingdom of eukaroytic organisms separate from plants and animals. They have cell walls, but these contain chitin rather than cellulose. Many from symbiotic relationships with other organisms, or feed on decomposing organic matter, rather than growing in soil like plants.
Body Plan-Fungi are usually multicellular organisms, but some unicellular fungi do exist. For example, researchers are considering classifying Microsporidia, a type of unicellular parasite, as fungi. An example of a more typical, multicellular fungi would be Tuber Magnatum, a type of truffle used in cooking gourmet foods.
Divergent Event-Fungi appear to have diverged from other eukaroytic organisms (which later developed into plants and animals) about 1 billion years ago. The fungal fossil record is largely incomplete, due to the fact that fungal tissues are rarely preserved: the earliest known fungal fossils date back a mere 400 million years, and therefore exact identification of a divergent event is impossible.
Metabolism- Fungi are entirely heterotrophic, lacking chloroplasts to convert sunlight into energy, and rely on metabolizing existing organic compounds to obtain energy.
Digestion-Digestion in fungi is extracellular; it takes place through the use of enzymes, which break down the complex organic molecules that fungi consume and then deliver nutrients to the cell.
Circulation-Fungi possess a long, branching structure called the hypha, which assists in the exchange of nutrients and water between different parts of the fungus, but no traditional circulatory system.
Respiration-Fungi do not have any respiratory systems, but certain types of fungi (such as yeats) can perform cell respiration
Nervous-Fungi possess no nervous system
Reproduction-Fungi reproduce through spreading spores, a form of sexual reproduction, and certain types can also perform meiosis, a type of asexual reproduction
Examples-Baker’s yeast is a single celled fungi used to make bread and other culinary products such as alcohol.
Penicillins, which are crucial antibiotics that destroy the cell walls of bacteria, are also classified as fungi.
Kingdom Eubacteria
Description-Eubacteria are a group of tiny, single celled prokaryotic organisms, found in every habitat on earth. They recycle many of the nutrients found in the earth’s soil, and also play an important part in nitrogen fixation. Their sheer quantity forms a great deal of the world’s biomass. Eubacteria can negatively affect animals and plants, but the immunes systems of these organisms typically prevent them from doing harm.
Body Plan-Eubacteria are unicellular
Divergent Event-Eubacteria and archaebacteria, due to their structural similarities, defy many attempts to identify exactly when they diverged from each other and became distinct types of prokaryotes. Research into genetic sequencing suggests that the split occurred about 3 billion years ago, and that eubacteria diverged first from archaebacteria, which were their predecessors.
Metabolism -There are both autotrophic and heterotrophic Eubacteria. Some Eubacteria receive energy from the sun, while others engulf organic compounds in their environment. An example of autotrophic Eubacteria is Chloroflexi, while an example of heterotrophic Eubacteria is Bacillus.
Digestion-Eubacterial digestion is intracellular: Eubacteria engulf their nutrients and digest them within their cell membranes
Circulation-Eubacteria possess no circulatory system
Respiration-Eubacteria possess no respiratory system
Nervous System-Eubacteria possess no nervous system
Reproduction-Eubacterial reproduction is asexual reproduction. Most Eubacteria perform binary division to reproduce, splitting their nuclei into two.
Examples: Myxococcus xanthus, a predatory Eubacterium that swarms other bacteria to kill and digest them.
Lactobacillus, a type of Eubacteria which converts proteins found in milk into lactic acid, and lives benignly inside the human body.
Kingdom Archaebacteria
Description-Members of the kingdom Archaebacteria are small, simplistic microorganisms. They are certainly prokaryotic, lacking a complex intracellular structure, but despite this many are able to survive in the most hostile locations on the planet, and are not reliant on any one source energy. Some archaebacteria sustain themselves by consuming hydrogen gas or metal ions, where other organisms could not. Still other archaebacteria live inside more complex organisms and act as mutualists or commensals.
Body Plan-Archaebacteria are unicellular.
Divergent Event-The lineage of archaebacteria may be the most ancient one in earth’s history, given that they are the simplest of prokaryotes. Due to their incredibly long evolutionary line, experts find it difficult to identify exactly when they appeared and differentiated from their relatives, Eubacteria, but examination of fossils seems to suggest that it occurred about 3 billion years ago, which is the age of the oldest sediment in which archaebacteria have been found.
Metabolism-Archaebacteria are both heterotrophic and autotrophic. An example autotrophic archaebacteria are members of the class Halobacteria, which absorb light by use of the pigment rhodopsin, and an example of heterotrophic archaebacteria are members of the class Methanobacteria, which metabolize methane gas to create energy.
Digestion-Digestion within Archaebacteria is intracellular: Archaebacteria engulf their nutrients and digest them within their cell membranes
Circulation-Archaebacteria possess no circulatory system
Respiration-Archaebacteria possess no respiratory system
Nervous System-Archaebacteria possess no nervous system
Reproduction-Archaebacterial reproduction is asexual reproduction. Most Archaebacteria perform binary division to reproduce, splitting their nuclei into two.
Examples: Ferroglobus placidus, which lives next to hydrothermal vents off the coast of Italy, able to endure temperatures of up to 95 degrees Celcius
Sulfolobus solfataricus, an archaebacterium found in Yellowstone National Park, which thrives in areas that have volcanic activity and acidic pH levels.
Table of Contents: Phylogenetic Tree
All links can be found in the table to the right
Kingdom Archaebacteria
Kingdom Eubacteria
Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Phylum Ascomycota
Kingdom Protista
Phylum Ciliophora
Phylum Rhodophyta
Phylum Chlorophyta
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Bryophyta
Phylum Coniferophyta
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Phylum Arthropoda
Phylum Echinodermata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Myxini
Class Cephalospidormi
Class Chondricthyes
Class Osteichthyes
Class Amphibia
Class Reptilia
Class Aves
Class Mammalia
Kingdom Archaebacteria
Kingdom Eubacteria
Kingdom Fungi
Phylum Basidiomycota
Phylum Ascomycota
Kingdom Protista
Phylum Ciliophora
Phylum Rhodophyta
Phylum Chlorophyta
Kingdom Plantae
Phylum Bryophyta
Phylum Coniferophyta
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Mollusca
Phylum Arthropoda
Phylum Echinodermata
Subphylum Vertebrata
Class Myxini
Class Cephalospidormi
Class Chondricthyes
Class Osteichthyes
Class Amphibia
Class Reptilia
Class Aves
Class Mammalia
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