15 15 Systematics connects classification with evolutionary history

  • Slides: 6
Download presentation
15. 15 Systematics connects classification with evolutionary history § Systematics is a discipline of

15. 15 Systematics connects classification with evolutionary history § Systematics is a discipline of biology that focuses on – classifying organisms (taxonomy) and – determining their evolutionary relationships (phylogeny). § Carolus Linnaeus introduced taxonomy, a system of naming and classifying/grouping species in the 1700’s © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

15. 15 Systematics connects classification with evolutionary history § Biologists assign each species a

15. 15 Systematics connects classification with evolutionary history § Biologists assign each species a two-part scientific name, or binomial, consisting of – a genus and – a unique part for each species within the genus. § Genera are grouped into progressively larger categories. § Each taxonomic unit is a taxon. Animation: Classification Schemes © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 15. 15 A Most specific Domestic Species: Felis catus (most exclusive) cat Common

Figure 15. 15 A Most specific Domestic Species: Felis catus (most exclusive) cat Common name: Cat (English) Chat (French) Gato (Spanish Neko (Japanese) Kowka (Russian) and many, many more taxon Genus: Felis Small cats Feline (cat-like) Family: Felidae carnivores All animals with a backbone, hair & Order: Carnivora mammary glands that primarily eat flesh All animals with a backbone, hair, Class: Mammalia and mammary glands All animals with a backbone All animals Bacteria Phylum: Chordata Kingdom: Animalia Domain: Eukarya All eukaryotes Archaea Most generic level (most inclusive) taxon

Remember the 8 taxonomic levels with a mnemonic device: Danish Kings Play Chess On

Remember the 8 taxonomic levels with a mnemonic device: Danish Kings Play Chess On Fiber Glass Slabs D = Domain K = Kingdom P = Phylum C = Class O = Order F = Family G = Genus S = Species

15. 15 Systematics connects classification with evolutionary history § Biologists traditionally use phylogenetic trees

15. 15 Systematics connects classification with evolutionary history § Biologists traditionally use phylogenetic trees to depict hypotheses about the evolutionary history of species. – The branching diagrams reflect the hierarchical classification of groups nested within more inclusive groups. – Phylogenetic trees indicate the probable evolutionary relationships among groups and patterns of descent. © 2012 Pearson Education, Inc.

Figure 15. 15 B Mustelidae Species Felis catus (domestic cat) Mustela frenata (long-tailed weasel)

Figure 15. 15 B Mustelidae Species Felis catus (domestic cat) Mustela frenata (long-tailed weasel) Lutra Felidae Carnivora Genus Mustela Family Felis Order Lutra lutra (European otter) Canis Canidae Canis latrans (coyote) Canis lupus (wolf)