1. Biological Classification
Understanding Domains & Kingdoms Notes

2. DOMAINS
Biological classification consists of 3 Domains (the broadest category possible)
Eubacteria – contain carbon-eating, heterotrophic (must obtain nutrients from an outside source) bacteria
EX: Cyanobacteria (blue-green algae)
Arachaea – includes both salt-loving and heat-loving microbes
EX: Sulfurbales (thrive in environments containing sulfur)
Eukaryota – contains organisms that are plants, animals, plant-like protists, fungus-like protists, other unique protists
EX: Humans

3. KINGDOMS The 3 Domains are broken into 6 Kingdoms: Domain Eukaryota
Kingdom Archaea – from Domain Archaea
Kingdom Eubacteria – from Domain Eubacteria
Kingdom Protista
Kingdom Fungi
Kingdom Plantae
Kingdom Animalia
Domain Eukaryota

4. Kingdom Archaea Includes:
A group of prokaryotic bacteria that thrive in many habitats, including harsh environments once thought uninhabitable
Similar to the first forms of life on Earth
Can be single celled or live in clusters
Can be producers, consumers, or decomposers based on habitat
Anaerobic – meaning they cannot tolerate oxygen
Found in places such as hot springs, salt lakes, underwater volcanic vents, oceans, and marshes
3 Major Groups:
Methanogens – produce methane gas and live in places such as soil
Halophiles – live in extremely salty environments (i.e Dead Sea)
Thermoacidophiles – live where temperatures near 176 °F (i.e. acidic sulfur springs of Yellowstone National Park)

5. Kingdom Archaea
Thermoacidophiles

6. Kingdom Eubacteria Includes: “True” bacteria
Can be single celled or live in clusters
Prokaryotic – has no nucleus
Circular DNA called a plasmid
Classified by how they obtain food:
Heterotrophs – found nearly everywhere, need to obtain energy from other living organisms
Autotrophs – use photosynthesis, found in lakes, ponds, streams, etc.
Chemotrophs – break down non living substances for energy
Include bacteria used to make cheese, yogurt, vinegar and soy sauce

7. Kingdom Protista Includes:
Contain unicellular and multicellular organisms
Eukaryotic – meaning they have a nucleus (control center of cell)
Plant-like Protists – known as algae
Autotrophs
Animal-like Protists – known as protozoa
Heterotrophs
Many are parasites living in water, soil, and on living and dead organisms
Fungus-like Protists
Obtain energy from decomposing organic material
Produce spores to reproduce

8. Kingdom Fungi Includes:
Hetrotrophs that secrete enzymes to digest food
Decomposers – live in or on matter they decompose for food
Unicellular or multicellular
Eukaryotic
Live in aquatic or moist habitats such as soil, mud, and decaying plants
Include mold, yeast, mushrooms, and truffles
Reproduce by spores

9. Kingdom Plantae Includes: Multicellular eukaryotic cells Plants!!
Almost all use photosynthesis
Separated into 2 categories
Nonvascular Plants – lack tissues to transport substances like water and sugars
Absorb nutrients through cells
Ex: moss, liverwort, and hornwort
Vascular Plants – Have specialized structures (xylem and phloem) to transport water and nutrients
Seedless – use spores to reproduce
Seed-bearing - include gymnosperms (produce a seed in a cone) and angiosperms (use a complicated cycle that often includes flowers)

10. Kingdom Animalia Includes: All animals!
Multicellular eukaryotic organisms
All animals have levels of organization that lead to organ systems that make up the animal
Heterotrophs who are all able to move at some point in life

11. Kingdom Animalia Broken into 2 main groups:
Invertebrates – lack a back bone
Most abundant group of animals
Include the following phyla:
Porifera (sponges)
Cnidarians (jellyfish, coral, anemones)
Platyhelminthes (flatworms)
Nematoda (roundworms)
Echinodermata (starfish and sea urchins)
Arthropoda (crustaceans, insects, and spiders)

12. Kingdom Animalia Vertebrates – have a backbone
All are of the phylum Chordata
Share similar characteristics
Notochord: a firm, flexible rod that provides support and often later becomes the vertebral column (spine)
Pharyngeal Pouches: embryonic foundation tissue that can become gills in fish and ear/jaw structures for land-dwelling animals
Endoskeleton: internal skeleton composed of bones, cartilage or both
Grows with all animals