Topic 5: Diversity of organisms

Solid Foundations: Pg 79-90

Syllabus
 The Five Kingdoms

• Kingdom = most general level

of classification
• 5 Kingdoms:
- Prokaryotae (Bacteria)
- Protoctista (Amoeba)
- Fungi (Mushroom)
- Plantae (Aloe)
- Animalia (Bird)
7 Characteristics of Living organisms – Revision from Gr8
 Comparing the Kingdoms
• Cell number:
• Unicellular/Multicellular
• Nucleus:
• Eukaryotic/Prokaryotic (nucleus/no nucleus)
• Food source
• Autotrophic/Heterotrophic
• Habitat
• Where they live
• Reproductive method
• How they reproduce
• Cell wall?
1. Prokaryotes
• Aka = bacteria
• Have diverse habitats
• Can live in extreme conditions = very
acidic or hot

• Features:
- Unicellular
- No nucleus or membrane bound
organelles
- Reproduce asexually through cell
division
- Either autotrophic or heterotrophic
Benefits of prokaryotes:
- Lactobacteria are used to create fermented foods like yoghurt
- Others are used to break down sewage in water treatment plants

• Some are harmful however and can cause diseases eg anthrax,

cholera, tetanus

Tetanus

anthrax
Cholera
Bacteria
• (6) How a Bacterial Colony Forms - YouTube
 2. Protoctista
• Cell Number:
• Unicellular/Multicellular
• Nucleus:
• Eukaryotic/Prokaryotic (nucleus/no nucleus)
• Food source
• Autotrophic/Heterotrophic
• Habitat
• Where they live
• Reproductive method
• How they reproduce
• Cell wall?
 2. Protoctista
• Most unicellular, some exceptions are
multicellular, e.g. giant kelp
• Have a nucleus
• Have membrane bound organelles (an
organelle [think of it as a cell's internal
organ] is a membrane bound structure
found within a cell. Just like cells have
membranes to hold everything in, these
mini-organs are also bound in a double
layer of phospholipids to insulate their
little compartments within the larger cells)
• Live in watery habitats, e.g. ponds, drops
of water, or bodily fluids
• Eg: Seaweeds (red/green algae), kelp, slime
moulds
Important functions of
Protoctista
• Algae can photosynthesise & form the first
component of aquatic food chains
• Algae produce oxygen which sustains other marine
life
• Protozoa is a food source for many marine animals
• Slime moulds on forest floors feed on decaying plant
or animal material, releasing nutrients back into the
soil
 3. Fungi
• Cell Number:
• Unicellular/Multicellular
• Nucleus:
• Eukaryotic/Prokaryotic (nucleus/no nucleus)
• Food source
• Autotrophic/Heterotrophic
• Habitat
• Where they live
• Reproductive method
• How they reproduce
• Cell wall?
 3. Fungi
• Occur in warm, damp environments

• Characteristics:
- Multicellular (except yeast which is
unicellular)
- Have cell walls made of chitin
- Have a nucleus
- Consist of thin thread-like
structures called hyphae
- Reproduce through spores
- Feed by breaking down organic
matter
- E.g. Mould, mushrooms
• Some fungi are harmful & can cause
disease in humans = athlete’s foot and
thrush
• Some fungi spoil food crops by causing
disease in plants

- Some fungi are beneficial = by breaking

down decaying plant and animal
material they help return nutrients to
soil
- Many plants rely on the fungi that grow
on their roots to help with the uptake
of nutrients
- Some fungi are edible e.g. mushrooms
Video
• All About Fungi - YouTube
Protoctista vs Fungi
 Activity:

• Solid foundation – P89:

Question 1 a) to f).
• Draw a table to compare plants
and fungi
 4. Plants
• Cell type:
• Unicellular/Multicellular
• Nucleus:
• Eukaryotic/Prokaryotic (nucleus/no nucleus)
• Food source
• Autotrophic/Heterotrophic
• Habitat
• Where they live
• Reproductive method
• How they reproduce
• Cell wall?
4. Plantae
• Estimated to have 40 000
species

• Characteristics:
- Multicellular with cell walls
consisting of cellulose
- Have nuclei and membrane-
bound organelles
- Autotrophs because can
photosynthesise through
chloroplast with chlorophyl
- Most live on land, some can live
in water
- Reproduce sexually or asexually
Flowering plants
• Eukaryotic multicellular organisms

• Characteristics:
- Have stems, leaves & roots
- Have vascular tissue for
transporting substances between
different parts of the plant
- Leaves have a waxy, waterproof
cuticle to prevent water loss
- Flowers form seeds for sexual
reproduction. Seeds are enclosed in
the ovary of the flower.
Flowering plants continued
• 2 main groups: Monocotyledons and
Dicotyledons
• Cotyledons = nr of seed leaves
= develops into 1st leaves of seedling

• Monocotyledons:
- Seeds are single units and have 1 cotyledon

• Dicotyledons:
- Seeds can be split into 2 lobes that each have a
cotyledon
• Pg. 82 Fig 5.5
Pg. 82 pf textbook
Examples:
• Monocotyledons: grasses, • Dicotyledons: roses, beans, aloes
wheat, maize
 Fill in the missing words A-E

G
A D F

C E H
B
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 Class Activity:
For each of the organisms state to which Kingdom it belongs.
Kingdoms: Animalea, Plantae, Fungi, Protoctista, Prokaryotes
1. Fern
2. Gonorrhoeae
3. Human
4. Mushroom
5. Yeast
6. Cactus
7. Syphilis
 5. Animals
• Cell type:
• Unicellular/Multicellular
• Nucleus:
• Eukaryotic/Prokaryotic (nucleus/no nucleus)
• Food source
• Autotrophic/Heterotrophic
• Habitat
• Where they live
• Reproductive method
• How they reproduce
• Cell wall?
5. Animalia

• Biggest kingdom

• Characteristics:
- Multicellular
- Eukaryotic (nucleus & membrane-bound organelles
- Cell membrane but no cell wall
- Heterotrophic (feed on other organisms)
• The vast majority of animals do not have a backbone. They are
invertebrate animals.
• Animals that have a backbone are known as vertebrate animals.
5. Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
• Vertebrates belong to PHYLUM Chordata

• Features of Chordata:
1. Bundle of nerve fibres connects brain
with the muscles and organs. These nerves
run along dorsal surface of body.
2. A notochord (cartilage rod) is present at
some stage of development. It gives
structure & helps with movement. Runs
underneath dorsal nerve bundle.
3. Heart situated below notochord, i.e. it is
ventral
Characteristics of Chordates in
vertebrates

• Notochord replaced by backbone

• Bundle of nerve fibres run inside
backbone
• Endoskeleton to which muscles are
attached
• Body has 2-layered skin, upper layer
with hair, feathers or scales.
• Most have 2 pairs of limbs
Vertebrate classes
• Pisces/Fish – wet scaly skin
• Amphibians – wet smooth skin
• Reptiles – dry scaly skin
• Aves/Birds - feathers
• Mammals – smooth skin/hair
covered skin
Compare & list features of the 5 major vertebrate classes
Mammalia

• Mostly on land
• Endothermic
• Skin with hair/fur
• Live young who feed on mother’s milk
• External ear pinna
• Small ear bones
• Tympanic membrane inside head
Aves (birds)

• Mostly on land
• Endothermic
• Feathers with rough
scales on legs
• Lay eggs on land that
have hard, waterproof
shells
• Ear opening on head
covered with feathers
Reptilia
• Mostly on land, but can spend
time in water
• Ectothermic
• Rough, dry scales
• Lay eggs on land with leathery,
waterproof shells
• Uncovered ear opening that may
be visible on head
Amphibia
• Live on land and water
• Ectothermic
• Smooth, moist skin
• Lay jelly-like eggs in
water
• Ear opening visible on
head
Osteichthyes (fish)

• Live in water
• Ectothermic
• Smooth scales
• Two
• Lay jelly-like eggs in water
• No ears, a sense organ that
detects vibration runs along
the side
Pg 87
 • Fusiform body shape covered with scales
• Sense organ called the lateral line runs along
the side of fish and detects vibrations in the
External water
diagnostic • Gills are used for breathing
features of a • Fins used for swimming:
- Dorsal & anal fins run along centre line of fish
bony fish and help keep the fish balanced
- Pectoral & pelvic fins found on side of fish and
help fish to steer through water
- Caudal fin moves fish forward
Solid foundation – P90: Questions 2. a), b), c).
 Fish farming in
Namibia
• Eating fish is important for a balanced diet
– rich in protein for building & repairing body
tissue
- low in fat that causes damage to heart &
blood vessels
- Contains essential vitamins & minerals

• Aquaculture = controlled breeding,

rearing & harvesting of aquatic organisms
(fish farming)
- provides communities sustainable &
affordable access to high-quality protein
- In Namibia we farm marine & freshwater
fish. Eg of freshwater fish = tilapia
Tilapia
Adaptation of
Tilapia for Namibia
• Can live in brackish, muddy
& murky water.
• Can live in relatively/fairly
warm water.
• Feed on plant matter.
• Fast growing
• Require little space
Economic importance
of fish farming

• Creates job opportunities & infrastructure

• Provided additional income for rural
households
• Uplift and empower communities by
creating opportunities for entrepreneurs
• Provides food and contributes to food
security
• Provides income for the country through
exports
Namibia project raises tilapia in former mine
• A unique fish-farming project in Uis, Namibia,
is situated in a remote and arid region of the
Namib Desert of southwestern Africa. The key
objectives of this project were to utilize an
existing water resource to produce food fish
and improve food security, and ensure the
participation of local communities.
 Eat fish
• Very healthy to eat fish.
• Provide large amount of protein, for growth.
• Low in fats.
• Low in Omega 6 – bad fat
• High in Omega 3 – good fat
• Much more affordable than other protein
foods/meats.
• Dried and stored

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