Introduction

Biodiversity refers to the variety of forms of living things

on the Earth interacting with each other.

Classification of Organisms

Taxonomy is used to identify, describe, and naming

organisms.

Organisms with the same characteristics are gathered in the

same class.

Organisms are classified into 5 major kingdoms:

a) Monera

d)

Plantae

b) Protista

e)

Animalia

c)

Fungi

1. Monera

Prokaryotic organisms with no

distinct membrane-bound nuclei and
organelles.

Unicellular organisms and has cell

Bacteria

walls.

Can be non-photosynthetic and

photosynthetic.

Examples of monera are bacteria

and cyanobacteria (blue-green
algae).

Cyanobacteria

2. Protista

Eukaryotes includes unicellular or multicellular organisms, and

each have nucleus and organelles that are surrounded by membranes.

Some have cell walls and some do not.

Multicellular protists are not specialised to perform specific functions in

the organisms.

Protista have 2 types:

a) Algae
b) Protozoa

Examples of protists (protozoa and algae):

Protozoa

Algae

Amoeba sp.

Chlamydomonas sp.

Paramecium sp.

Spirogyra sp.

3. Fungi

Both unicellular and multicellular organisms.

The cell walls of fungi contain a material called chitin.

Bodies consists of a network of a network of thread-like hyphae called

mycelium.

They do not contain chlorophyll and may feed saprotrophically

by absorbing nutrients from decaying organic matter while
others are parasitic.

Examples of fungi are moulds (Mucor sp.), mushrooms and

yeasts.

Moulds (Mucor sp.)

Mushrooms

Yeasts

4. Plantae

Plants are multicellular organisms that are immobile, contains

chlorophyll and produce their own food by photosynthesis.

Each plant cell has a nucleus, cell wall and other organelles.

5. Animalia

Animals are multicellular organisms and are mobile.

Their cells do not have any cell walls.

Do not have chlorophyll.

The Hierarchy in the

Classification of Organisms

Kingdom

Phylum

Class

Order

Family

Genus

Species

Living organisms are classified into 7 hierarchical levels.

The number of organisms in each unit decreases from kingdom to

species.

Therefore, each higher unit covers a greater range of organisms.

Linnaeus Binomial System of

Classification

This type of classification uses 2 words to name every species or

organisms found:
a) The first word in the name refers to genus.
b) The second word is the specific name.

) Both names are in Latin (or latinised).

) Both names are in italics if typed or underlined if written.
) Example: Human homo sapiens or homo sapiens

Classificati
on

Tiger

Human

Hibiscus

Kingdom

Animalia

Animalia

Plantae

Genus

Panthera

Homo

Hibiscus

Species

tigris

sapiens

rosasinensis

a) Tiger: Panthera tigris

b) Human: Homo sapiens
c)

Hibiscus: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

The Importance of Biodiversity

Maintaining a balanced nature

Source of food

Source of medicine

Clean air

Shelter

Economic resources (eco-tourism)

Clean drinking water

Preserved all living organisms from become extinct