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Biodiversity and classification

The variety of life, the five kingdoms, scientific names and why we conserve biodiversity. Read one part at a time and tap “I know this”. Then test yourself in the quiz.

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The five kingdoms

KingdomExample
AnimalsLion, sea sponge
PlantsProtea, grass
FungiMushroom, yeast
ProtistsAmoeba, algae
MoneraBacteria

The largest group is the kingdom. The most important difference between a plant and an animal: plants make their own food by photosynthesis. Animals are classified by body structure and reproduction.

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Plants: one or two seed leaves

Monocotyledon (monocot)Dicotyledon (dicot)
One seed leafTwo seed leaves
Parallel veins (maize, grass)Net-like veins (bean)
Fibrous rootsA main tap root
Flower parts in threes (lilies)Flower parts in fours or fives (sunflower)

Grass has small, dull flowers and lots of pollen: it is pollinated by the wind.

The meerkat sorts living things into groups.
The meerkat sorts living things into groups.
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Why conserve biodiversity?

  • Loss of biodiversity makes ecosystems less able to withstand change.
  • The biggest cause: people destroying habitats. Alien plants crowd out native species.
  • An endemic species occurs only in one region; an endangered species has very few members left.
  • Ecology is the study of living things and their environment.
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From kingdom to species

Scientists sort organisms into smaller and smaller groups. The members of each smaller group have more in common.

  1. Kingdom
  2. Phylum (in plants: division)
  3. Class
  4. Order
  5. Family
  6. Genus
  7. Species
Rule

The species is the smallest group: members of one species can have fertile young together. All people are one species: Homo sapiens.

A binomial name has two parts: the genus (with a capital letter) and the species (with a small letter), for example Homo sapiens. It is printed in italics, or underlined when you write it by hand. Carl Linnaeus invented this system.

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Remember this and test yourself

Remember this: your summary
  • Classification orders living things by shared features.
  • Five kingdoms: animals, plants, fungi, protists, monera (bacteria).
  • A species is a group that can reproduce together; each has one binomial (scientific) name.
  • Arthropods: insects (6 legs), arachnids (spider), crustaceans (crab).
  • South Africa is rich in life because of its many climates; a seed bank saves seeds of plants at risk.

Write these points in your book. Read them again the night before the test.

Memory trick

Five kingdoms: A-P-F-P-M: “All Pandas Find Plenty of Mangoes.” (Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists, Monera)

Flash cards · Tap to turn over

Important words

First say what the word means, then turn the card over.

Test yourself · Part 2

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