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Name_______________________________ Feb. 5, 2009
Lab 4: Taxonomy
OBJECTIVES
1. Recognize the relationship between the taxonomic categories
2. Name the five kingdoms of organisms and identify the characteristics which distinguish them from
each other
3. Describe taxonomic classification, binomial nomenclature and how scientific names are written
4. Name two kinds of Monera and describe the ecological functions of each.
5. Describe three shapes of bacterial cells and recognize the use of the prefixes: diplo-, strepto- and
staphylo6. Identify hyphae, mycelium and sporangia in fungi and the function of each
7. Identify if the organisms found are single celled/multi-celled, autotrophic/heterotropic and
eukaryotic/prokaryotic
8. Distinguish the phyla Bryophyta, Pterophyta, Coniferophyta, and Anthrophyta and regcognize
examples of each
9. Name the characteristic feature which distinguishes each phyla from another
10. Draw and label the parts of a flower
11. Identify if the organisms found are single celled/multi-celled, autotrophic/heterotropic and
eukaryotic/prokaryotic
MATERIALS NEEDED
Slides of blue green algae
Slides of Protists
Examples of Fungi
Slides of Bacteria (3 types)
Pine cones
Moss
Fern
Flower
PREPARATION
Read Biology a Guide to the Natural World Chapter 20, 21, 22
INTRODUCTION
We are surrounded. And not only by the organisms that are familiar to us (e.g. trees, dogs, people) but by
billions of bacteria, protists, fungi and insects (especially beetles!). Currently there are approximately 2
billion organism named by scientists (table 1). However, it is estimated that there could be as many as 30
million – 100 million extant species that have not been named yet!
Naming and arranging this staggering diversity could be a daunting task. However, through a process
known as taxonomic classification, arrangements can be made sensibly by examining organisms for
shared characteristics. In this unit, you will learn about the fundamental types of organisms (kingdoms)
In addition, you will observe several key features that are shared by similar organisms and you will use
this information to study the relatedness of these organisms.
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Table 1. Estimated abundance of major groups of living organisms.
TOTALS
MONERA
Bacteria
Cyanobacteria
3,000
1,700
4,700
PROTISTA
31,000
FUNGI
69,000
PLANTS
Bryophyta
Pterophyta
Coniferophyta
Anthophyta
ANIMAL
Porifera
Cnidaria
Platyhelminthes
Annelida
Mollusca
Echinodermata
Arthropoda
Chordata
24,000
12,000
550
250,000
286,550
9,000
10,000
18,500
12,000
50,000
6,000
1,250,000
51,000
1,406,500
TOTAL # OF NAMED SPECIES
1,797,750
In order to classify organisms into different categories, biologists use key features that define the group.
This sorting is done in a systematic way through the use of a simple procedure known as the Linnaean
System. This system is hierarchical, in which organisms are more related to each other as you move
down the taxonomic scale.
KINGDOM
PHYLUM
CLASS
ORDER
FAMILY
GENUS
SPECIES
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The original system only had seven categories and it has turned out that seven categories are too narrow,
so taxonomists have added intermediate categories such as superorder and subfamily. Below is the
taxonomic classification for humans.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Placentalia
Order: Primates
Family: Hominidae
Genus: Homo
Species: Homo sapiens
Note that the species is always two names (binomial nomenclature) and is written in italics (if you are
writing it out long hand then you underline the name).
ACTIVITY
I. Kingdom Monera
The Kingdom Monera includes bacteria and cyanobacteria. Bacteria (Fig. 1) occur as sphere
shaped cells (cocci), rod-shaped cells (bacilli), or spiral-shaped cells (spirilla). In addition, the
cells may occur singly or they may occur in pairs (diplo-), in chains (strepto-), or in clusters
(staphlo-). Examine the slide of bacterial types and note these shapes and forms. All bacterial
cells have cell walls and lack membrane bound organelles.
Staphylococcus
Bacilllus
Coccus
Spirillum
Streptococcus
Diplococcus
Figure 1. Bacterial Diversity
Using the information about the shapes and configurations of bacteria, draw and example of
“strepto-bacillus” and example of “staphylo-bacillus”
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The cyanobacteria conduct photosynthesis (i.e., they are autotrophic). Examine a slide of Nostoc.
Nostoc
Oscillatoria
Figure 2. Representative blue green algae
What is the function of the blue and green pigments in this organism? ____________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Draw and label Nostoc (remember to include magnification).
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II. Kingdom Protista
Slides of Protists are available for study. Examine each under high power.
Food
vacuole
Food vacuole
Cilia
Nucleus
Oral groove
Macronucleus
Micronucleus
Contractile
vacuole
Contractile vacuole
Pseudopodium
Amoeba
Paramecium
Figure 3. Representative protists
Can you detect any structures within these cells? (the term for this condition is eukaryotic)?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Draw and label Amoeba (remember to include magnification)
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III. Kingdom Fungi
Fungi include organisms as diverse as bread molds and mushrooms. Fungi are characterized by
thread-like cells called hyphae, which absorb nutrients from decaying organic material. A group
of these threads forms mycelium mats. The sporangium (mushroom) projects from the
mycelium mat.
Helvelia
Geoglossum
Agaricus
muscaria
Agaricus
compestris
Lepiota
naucina
Figure 4.compestris
Representative fungi
In fungi, most of the organism is below the ground or under the tree bark. The sporangium only appears
when sexual reproduction occurs. The “gills” of a mushroom bear spore producing structures. A spore
is small, light protected capsule that is capable of producing new individuals. If you place a mushroom
on a white sheet of paper, the spores will falloff the gills and make a "spore print" on the paper.
gill
gill
Spore print
Figure 5. Spore-production in mushrooms
Why would it be beneficial for spores to be dispersed away from the organism that made them?
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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IV. Kingdom Plantea
A. Phylum Bryophyta
Mosses are representative of the Phylum Bryophyta. Bryophytes are non-vascular plants. Lacking
vascular tissue (roots, stems, and leaves) prevents mosses from growing tall. Additionally, Bryophytes
have swimming sperm that must be exposed to moisture. Observe the moss on demonstration.
Sphagnum
Bryum
Figure 6. Representative bryophytes
B. Phylum Pterophyta
A plant without vascular tissue is usually pressed against the soil so that water and nutrients can be
obtained and transported by diffusion and osmosis. In a sense, vascular tissue allows plants to escape
from the soil surface. Among the vascular plants, there is considerable variation in the extent to which
the plant rises above the surface. Observe the living fern at the demonstration table. Ferns (Phylum
Pterophyta) have relatively large leaves ("fronds") which bear spore-producing structures on the under
side (sori).
Describe the fern: How tall is it? How large are the leaves? How many spore-producing structures does
it have? How far above the ground are the spore-producing structures?
___________________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________________
Vascular tissue is often very rigid because of certain chemicals that are present in the cell walls. This
provides structural support for the plant and allows individuals to rise to great heights (e.g., trees), but
the key feature that leads to diversification among the vascular plants involves reproductive structures.
C. Phylum Coniferophyta
The Phylum Coniferophyta ("cone-bearing" plants) includes gymnosperms such as pines and firs. All
of these plants have reproductive organs known as cones; more importantly, they also produce seeds,
which are special structures that protect and nourish the embryonic plant. Examine the cones and seeds
of typical conifers.
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How is a seed different from a spore? ____________________________________________________
How do male gametes get to the female gametes in a cone? ___________________________________
D. Phylum Anthrophyta
The most diverse group of the Plant Kingdom is the Phylum Anthophyta. These are the flowering
plants (sometimes called "angiosperms"). The key characteristic of this group is the flower, the
reproductive organ of the plant. It contains the gamete-producing tissues and is often characterized by
specializations that enhance gamete transfer (through the wind or by way of animals). Flowering plants
also produce seeds, but once a seed is formed in an anthophyte, a fruit is formed around it to enhance
seed dispersal.
The more familiar members of the Plant Kingdom (e.g., ferns and flowering plants) have vascular
tissues to transport water and food throughout the plant body. It is very easy to see vascular tissue in a
simple preparation. Look at the cut end of the celery stalk at the demonstration table. Cut off a very thin
slice from the stalk and examine this material in a wet mount on the dissecting microscope.
Does the red dye completely color the stalk, or is it limited to certain areas?
____________________________________________________________________________
How did the red dye get into these areas of the celery stalk? ____________________________________
Note the different
reproductive structures
of the plant
E. Animal Kingdom
We will do a complete separate lab on the Animal Kingdom at the next lab.
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GLOSSARY:
Anthophyta – phylum that includes seed plants that form flowers
Autotrophic – able to manufacture organic molecules from inorganic materials
Bacilli – rod-shaped bacterial cells
Bryophyta – phylum that includes animal with a notochord, a dorsal nerve cord, and pharyngeal gill slits
Classification – process of sorting objects into categories for purposes of identification
Cocci - spherical bacterial cells
Cone – reproductive organ in conifers, consisting of specialized leaves that bear reproductive structures
Coniferophyta – phylum that includes seed plants that form cones
Eukaryote – cell that has membrane-bound organelles (e.g. nucleus or mitochondria)
Flower – reproductive organ of anthophytes, consisting of specialized leaves for protection, pollinator
attraction, and gamete production
Fungi – Kingdom that includes multicellular eukaryotes that obtain organic molecules by absorption
across the body surface
Heterotrophic – unable to manufacture organic molecules form inorganic materials; must obtain organic
molecules by absorption or ingestion
Hypha- elongated, cylindrical cell type found in fungi
Kingdom – highest category in the hierarch of biological classification
Monera – kingdom that includes all prokaryotic organisms (e.g. bacteria and blue green algae)
Multicellular - (condition of an organism composed of several, interdependent cells
Mycelium – mass of thread-like hyphae; forms body of a fungus
Phylum – taxonomic category that recognizes the major types of animal
Prokaryote – cell that lacks membrane-bound organelles, through it does include organelles such as
ribosomes
Protista – kingdom that includes mostly unicellular eukaryotes
Pterophyta – phylum that includes the seedless vascular plants
Seed – structure containing embryo and food source for developing plant
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Species – fundamental unit o biological classification
Spirilla – spiral shaped bacterial cells
Spore – reproductive cell, capable of producing new individual by itself
Sporangium – spore bearing structure found in various fungi
Taxonomy – branch of biology dealing with the names of organisms and their classification
Vascular tissue – specialized cells that provide structural support and internal transport in certain plants
(e.g. tracheophytes)
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