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Biological Kingdoms
An introduction to the six kingdoms of living
things
3 Domains
6 Kingdoms
Archaea
Archaebacteria
Bacteria
Eubacteria
Plantae
Eukaryota
Animali
a
Fungi
Protista
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom
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Animals are a group of multicellular eukaryotic
organisms. The word animal comes from the Latin
word animalis meaning “having breath.”
Animals are different from other eukaryotes in a
number of ways. First, animal cells lack the rigid
cell wall that plants, fungi, and algae have.
Second, animals are heterotrophic, meaning that
they must ingest other organisms in order to
survive. Heterotrophs are the consumers in the
food chain. Third, all animals are motile, or able to
move, at least during one stage of their life cycle.
Nearly all animals undergo some form of sexual
reproduction, where specialized sex cells form and
fuse together to form zygotes, which develop into
individuals. Some animals are also capable of
asexual reproduction, through budding or forms of
cloning.
The Kingdom Animalia is divided into approximately
40 Phyla including Phylum Chordata, which includes
all the vertebrate animals, or animals with a backbone
and spinal column. Humans, as well as fish, birds,
reptiles, amphibians, and other mammals, belong to
the Phylum Chordata. Other phyla include Phylum
Arthropoda, to which crabs, spiders, and insects
belong; and Phylum Nematoda, which are the
roundworms.
Domain Eukaryota
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Kingdom Plantae
Organisms from the Kingdom Plantae are multicellular eukaryotic
organisms. Plants have characteristics that make them different
from other eukaryotic organisms. One of the main differences is
that they are autotrophic, meaning they are able to make their own
food using simple inorganic substances. They do this through a
process known as photosynthesis, in which plants convert
sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide into sugar and oxygen. Plants
are multicellular and, unlike animals, their cells have rigid cell
walls made from cellulose or hemicellulose.
Some species of plants reproduce sexually and some reproduce
asexually. In asexual reproduction, such as budding, an exact
copy of the parent is produced. Plant sexual reproduction can be
assisted by animals, as is the case with flowers and honeybees.
As the bees go from flower to flower collecting nectar, they carry
pollen, plant sex cells, with them and pollinate other plants.
Pollination is the first step in plant sexual reproduction.
The Kingdom Plantae is divided into 11 Phyla.
Phylum Coniferophyta are cone producing plants. Most of the
Conifers are evergreens like pines and firs.
Phylum Anthophyta are flowering, seed producing plants.
They are a very diverse group and include organisms such as
strawberry plants, palm trees, and water lilies.
Phylum Bryophyta are mosses- small, soft plants that don’t
have flowers or seeds. They absorb water and nutrients
through their leaves.
Plants are a very diverse group!
Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom
fungi
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Fungi are a large group of eukaryotic organisms that includes
such organisms as yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Many fungi
are multicellular, but some are unicellular.
Some differences between fungi and other eukaryotes are at the
cellular level. Fungal cells have cell walls that contain chitin,
unlike plant cell walls which contain cellulose. Another difference
between plant cells and fungal cells is that fungal cells lack
chloroplasts, so most fungi are heterotrophs. They take in
nutrients by absorbing them from their environment.
Fungi reproduction is complex. Many fungi reproduce both
asexually and sexually at different stages in their life cycles.
Fungal reproduction often involves the production and dispersal
of spores.
Fungi can be both harmful and helpful. Some fungi grow in or on
plants or animals causing disease, such as Dutch Elm Disease or
Ringworm. Other fungi, such as the mold that the antibiotic
penicillin is made from, can help organisms by killing bacteria.
Domain Eukaryota
KINGDOM PROTISTA
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Protists are a diverse group of eukaryotic microorganisms. They do not
have much in common except that they are relatively simple eukaryotes.
They are either unicellular or multicellular without reaching the
specialized tissue level of organization. Protists include organisms such
as algae, amoebae, protozoans, euglena, and slime molds.
Protists live in almost any environment that contains liquid water.
Some protists, such as algae, are photosynthetic, so they are
autotrophs. Other protists are heterotrophs, obtaining nutrients from
their environment. Amoebae engulf, or take into their membrane, other
cells. This process is called phagocytosis.
Most protists reproduce asexually, through a form of cell division. Other
protists engage in a form of sexual reproduction.
Some protists are responsible for diseases such as malaria in humans
and potato blight in potato plants. Research scientists are
experimenting with ways to use protists to wipe out fire ants and other
pests.
Domain Bacteria
Kingdom Eubacteria
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Kingdom Eubacteria
Organisms in the Kingdom Eubacteria are unicellular prokaryotes.
Prokaryotes do not have a membrane bound nucleus or membrane
bound organelles. Eubacteria are found in all habitats. Some eubacteria
remain independent as single cells and other group into colonies.
Eubacteria reproduce asexually through cell division.
Some eubacteria are autotrophic, making their own food, and others are
heterotrophic, taking in nutrients from their environment.
Eubacteria can cause various diseases, from strep throat to Rocky
Mountain spotted fever, but they can also be very helpful. Lactobacillus
is used to help make foods like cheese and yogurt, and is also present in
the human digestive system. Decomposing organic matter and cycling
nitrogen are also important functions of eubacteria.
Domain Archaea
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Organisms in Kingdom Archaebacteria are unicellular prokaryotes.
They have no membrane bound nucleus or organelles in their single
celled bodies. Archaebacteria are similar in size and shape to
eubacteria. The differences between the two have more to do with their
chemical and genetic make up. Some of the genes of archaebacteria
are more closely related to eukaryotes than eubacteria. The cell walls
of archaebacteria are different from both eubacteria and eukaryotes.
Like eubacteria, archaebacteria reproduce asexually through cell
division. They can also be autotrophic, making their own food, or
heterotrophic, obtaining food from their environment, just like
eubacteria.
Some archaebacteria are extremeophiles, living in extreme
environments such as in hot springs, extremely acidic environments,
polar seas, and even in extremely salty water.
The End