1. Classification

2. What is Classification The process of putting things into groups based on their similarities.

3. Why Classify? To organize To identify To study To observe patterns in nature.

4. Classification Systems 1.The first system was developed by Aristotle. a. 2 groups: animals & plants. b. Animals divided into 3 groups: i. Flying ii. Walking iii. Swimming

5. Classification Systems c. List 2 animals that would fit in the groups listed above. d. What are some possible problems with this classification system?

6. Classification Systems 2. The second system was developed by Carl Linne (aka Carolus Linnaeus) a. Developed the system called binomial nomenclature (two- name naming system).

7. Classification Systems b. It uses Latin because it will never change. c. The first name is the Genus and it is ALWAYS CAPITALIZED. i. The genus is a group of closely related organisms. ii. Example: all bears are in the genus Ursus.

8. Classification Systems d. The second name is the species and it is never capitalized. i. The species name is specific to one type of organism. ii. Example: a polar bear is Ursus maritimus, a grizzly bear is Ursus arctos, and a black bear is Ursus americanus.

9. Classification Systems 3. Today’s Classification System a. There are 8 levels, each level gets more specific: 1. Domain – Example: Eurkaryota (has nucleus) 2. Kingdom – Example: Animalia (animals) 3. Phylum – Example: Chordata (has a backbone) 4. Class – Example: Mammalia (nurses young & has hair) 5. Order – Example: Rodentia (has long sharp front teeth) 6. Family – Example: Scuridae (has a busy tail) 7. Genus – Example: Tamiasciurus (climbs trees) 8. Species – Example: hudsonicus (has reddish fur on back and white fur on underside)

10. Common Name: Red Squirrel

11. Classification Systems 4. The 6 Kingdoms a. Animalia: insects, fish, worms, mammals, birds b. Plantae: trees, flowers, moss, grass c. Fungi: mold, mushrooms, yeast, penicillin d. Protista: algae, amoebas, paramecium, sea weed e. Monera (aka Bacteria): salmonella, streptococcus, E. coli f. Archaea –single-celled prokaryotes

12. Classification Systems 5. Classification keys (aka dichotomous keys & taxonomic keys) a. A series of paired statements that describe the characteristics of different organisms. b. Used to identify the name of species. c. Example: office supplies

14. Dichotomous Key Rules 1. Read both choices. 2. Keep track of your choices – write the sequence down. 3. If you aren’t sure which choice is correct, try both and see which one works best. 4. If you don’t understand a word, look it up.