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108 Lecture 1 Spring 2023

The document discusses organismal diversity on Earth. It estimates that there are between 2-8 million species that have been cataloged, though some speculate the actual number could be as high as 100 million. It describes how taxonomy and phylogenetics are used to classify and track biological diversity. Scientific names provide a universal way to identify organisms, in contrast to common names which can vary or be misleading. Hierarchical classification systems organize organisms into nested taxonomic groups from the most inclusive to the least inclusive. Phylogenies depict evolutionary relationships between taxa through time.

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38 views

108 Lecture 1 Spring 2023

The document discusses organismal diversity on Earth. It estimates that there are between 2-8 million species that have been cataloged, though some speculate the actual number could be as high as 100 million. It describes how taxonomy and phylogenetics are used to classify and track biological diversity. Scientific names provide a universal way to identify organisms, in contrast to common names which can vary or be misleading. Hierarchical classification systems organize organisms into nested taxonomic groups from the most inclusive to the least inclusive. Phylogenies depict evolutionary relationships between taxa through time.

Uploaded by

Chevy White
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Weight of Life

This Class Covers Organismal Diversity so:

How Many Organisms Are There On Earth?


The actual number of species on Earth is still
a big question in science.
• Scientists have cataloged ~1.7 million species.
• Estimates of species diversity range from 2-8
million with some speculations as high as 100
million!
Which groups of organisms
are most diverse?
How do we keep track of biological diversity?
Systematics

• Taxonomy- The naming, description,


identification, and classification of organisms.

• Phylogenetics- Uncovering evolutionary


relationships between organisms.
Common versus Scientific Names

Taraxacum officinale Toxicodendron radicans Capsicum anuum


Common versus Scientific Names

Taraxacum officinale Toxicodendron radicans Capsicum anuum


“Dandelion” “Poison Ivy” “Red Pepper”
Advantages of common names: simple, easy to remember, familiar, can be descriptive

Disadvantages: Differ in different languages (not universal), many names for the same
species, same name for different plants, many species do not have common names,
names may be misleading
Development of Scientific Names
• Before 1753 organisms
were named with
polynomials, a noun
followed by descriptive
adjectives
– “Ranunculus calycibus
retroflexis, pedunculis
falcatis, caule erecto,
foliis compositis”
Development of Scientific Names
• In 1753 the Swedish
botanist Carolus Linnaeus
formalized binomial
nomenclature
– “Ranunculus calycibus
retroflexis, pedunculis
falcatis, caule erecto, foliis
compositis” turned into
Ranunculus bulbosus
The technicalities of the binomial system
• Genus name always capitalized; species and lower categories aren’t
Newspapers always get this wrong!

• Genus, specific epithet, and lower categories always underlined or italicized.

• Name endings agree in gender, case, and number


Gilia rigidula => Giliastrum rigidulum

• Specific epithet cannot repeat the generic name (tautonym)


Allowed in zoology (Bison bison, Alces alces) but not in botany

• Genus name can be abbreviated if context is clear


• Cannabis sativa => C. sativa but not just sativa

• Scientific name includes a citation indicating the author that first published the name 
Cannabis sativa L. same plant as Cannabis sativa. The “L.” indicates the person that named it
which in this case is Linneaus himself.
Scientific names
• Each organism has only one correct name.
• Names are universal; same regardless of geographic
location.
• Use of names dictated by the International Code of
Botanical Nomenclature (ICBN) or ICZN which are
regularly updated.

ICBN updated at international botanical congresses


Scientific names must be published in scientific journals
Name must follow rules of ICBN, the name must be new, there was a required latin description,
the rank and holotype must be clearly designated, illustrations are desirable.

New name
with author name

Latin diagnosis
Heirarchical System of
Classification
-Each organism belongs
to a series of formally
named categories nested
within each other from
most inclusive
(Domain/Kingdom) to
least inclusive (species)

A Taxon (plural: Taxa) is a


group of organisms at any
taxonomic rank or category
Phylogenies (evolutionary trees) are heirarchical and are used to
visualize how organisms have evolved and how organisms are related.

Most recent ancestor of A and B

Most recent ancestor of


A,B,C,D,E, and F

Ancestors Present Day


A Phylogeny with 4 taxa
• Taxon (plural: taxa): a group of organisms at any
taxonomic rank or category. Species, genera,
families, kingdoms are examples of taxa.
• Nodes show ancestral taxa that are not
presently in existence.
• Branches can rotate and phylogenies can be
drawn in numerous ways (straight lines, circular
etc.)
Ectoprocta
Mollusca Annelida
Platyhelminthes Brachiopoda
Echinodermata Arthropoda
Rotifera
Chordata Nemotoda

Acoela
Cnidaria
Ctenophora
Calcarea
Silicea

Zooming in on the
“Animal” branch
Lizards,
Snakes
Turtles Crocodiles
Mammals
Salamanders
Birds
Frogs
Lungfishes
Ray-finned
Sharks, fishes
Rays
Lampreys
Hagfishes

Zooming in on the
“Chordate” branch
Deer,
Rodents Whales
Rabbits Pigs
Primates Bats Horses,
Rhinos
Shrews Carnivore
Manatees s
Elephants
Armadillos

Aardvarks

Marsupial
s
Egg-laying
mammals

Zooming in on the
“Mammal” branch
Gorillas
Orangutans
Humans
Gibbons Chimps,
Bonobos
GREAT
APES

OLD-WORLD
NEW-WORLD
MONKEYS
MONKEYS

Zooming in on the
“Primate” branch

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