Transcript Kingdom System

Classification
 Aim
 To gain an understanding of the binomial system of Classification, and
the differences between the major divisions, Kingdoms and Phyla.
 To understand the Classification of organisms within an Ecosystem in
terms of Trophic Levels.
 Additional Reading
Environmental Engineering, Gerard Kiely.
Kiely, Gerard
Fundamentals of aquatic ecology R.S.K. Barnes and
K.H. Mann. 2nd Edition
Biology of Freshwater,
Maitland, Peter.S.
Classification of Organisms
 Why Classify?
 Continuity amongst Researchers
 Types of Classification
 Taxonomy
 Scientific study of Classification and Nomenclature
 Phylogeny
 Ordering of species into groups having Evolutionary similarities.
 Classification by Function
 Individuals as part of an Ecosystem
Kingdoms of Organisms
 2 - Kingdom System
 Animals
 Plants
 3 - Kingdom System
 Animals
 Plants
 Protista
 5 - Kingdom System
 Monera
 Protista
 Fungi
 Animalia
 Plantae
Classification of Organisms
 Animals, Plants and Microorganisms are arranged in groups which are
themselves part of Larger Groups.
 Hierarchical System = “Family Tree”
Kingdom
Individual organisms have a name
from each of the Taxonomic levels.
Nomenclature devised by Linnaeus
Phylum
Class
e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Order
Family
Genus
species
species
Classification of Organisms
 Importance of the Major Divisions - The Eukaryotic Phyla
Kingdom
Protista
Animalia
Phylum
Protozoa
Euglenophta
Chlorophyta
etc.
Arthropoda
(Rhizopoda, ciliata etc)
(Algae)
(Algae)
(750,000sp, Insecta, Arachnida
Crustacea, Ostracoda, Copopda)
(snails, bivalves)
(Rotifera)
(polychaete worms)
Mollusca
Aschelminths
Annelida
etc.
Chordata Class - (Amphibia, Reptilia, Aves, mammalia)
Biological Classification Conventions
Taxon
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Animals
Man
Mosquito
Typhoid
Gut Bacteria
Chordata
Mammalia
Primates
Hominidae
Homo
sapiens
Procaryota
Selizomycetes
Eubacteriales
Enterbacteriaceae
Salmonella
typhi
Procaryota
Selizomycetes
Eubacteriales
Enterbacteriaceae
Escherichia
coli
Arthropoda
Insecta
Diptera
Culcidae
Culex
quinquefasciens
Bacteria
Lower ranks based on biochemical similarities.
For EE, more important to be able to classify organisms at Kingdom, Phyla and
possibly Class levels.
Phylogeny
 Ancestor-Descendant (hypothetical)
 Classical Methods
 Phenotypic - morphology, behaviour, cytology.
 Biochemical Methods
 gram stain - Peptidoglycan
 nutritional requirements, metabolism
 Protein Analysis - cytochrome C, haemoglobin.
 Lipid Analysis
 Nucleic Acid Analysis
 GC Ratios
Phylogeny
 Nucleic Acid Analysis (continued)
 DNA-DNA hybridisation
 reflects sequence similarity
 useful for species and genus level comparisons
 Ribosomal RNA Sequencing 16S and 18S
 very powerful technique
 data can be processed mathematically
 sequence highly conserved (< 97% indicates a different species)
 Molecular Clock
 Precise Phylogenetic Trees
Trophic Pyramids
 Pyramids of Numbers
Primary Producers
are small (e.g. algae)
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Primary Producers
Tertiary Consumers
Secondary Consumers
Primary Consumers
Primary Producer
Primary Producers
are large (e.g. Tree)
However, Biomass of aquatic organisms varies greatly
Escherichia
Paramecium
Penicillin
Daphnia
Salmo
0.4 x 10-12 g
0.4 x 10-9 g
1 x 10-7 g
1 x 10-3 g
> 100 g
Bacteria
Protozoa
Fungus
Invertebrate
Fish
 Is better to produce Pyramids of Biomass.
Still gives pyramid shape, but with steeper slopes.
 Is better still to produce Pyramids of Metabolic Contribution (Energy)
Metabolic Pyramid in Food Webs
 Use the Productivity per unit Biomass
 Smaller organisms have higher metabolic rates
Bacteria
Protozoa
zooplankton
fish
10-12 g
10-9 g
10-3 g
100 g
reproduce 50 x bodyweight/d
reproduce 1 - 10 x bodyweight/d
reproduce 0.1 x bodyweight/d
reproduce 0.01 x bodyweight/d
 Productivity/Biomass Ratio
 Combine P/B with Enumeration data for members within a Trophic level to
give best estimate of its Metabolic Contribution (Energy).
 Diversity of Organisms.
 Number of species in the Community
 Ecological Efficiency (5 - 15%)
 Key Indicator in monitoring the ‘Condition’ of natural environments
(rivers, lakes) and of STP.
Decomposer Food Chain
Energy and Nutrient Flow
Energy - Export, Import, Recycling.
Trophic Pyramids
Energy Flows -Hydraulic Model
Food Pyramids