Classification and Biodiversity

• What is classification?

  The grouping of living things to make them easier to understand.
• What are the 5 kingdoms?

  Animals, Plants, Single-celled organisms, Bacteria and Fungi
• What are the 5 Kingdoms based on?

  Morphological features
• What are the 3 domains?

  Eukaryotes, Bacteria and Ancient/Archaea Bacteria
• What’s the 3 domain system based on?

  DNA
• What are eukaryotes?


  Organisms with a nucleus
• What is bacteria?

  Organisms without a nucleus
• What are vertebrates?

  Animals with a backbone e.g snakes
• What are invertebrates?

  Animals without a backbone e.g worms
• What can the animal kingdom be split into?

  Vertebrates and Invertebrates
• What can the plant kingdom be split into?

  Flowering and non-flowering plants
• What are flowering plants?

  Plants that produce flowers for reproduction e.g sunflowers
• What are non-flowering plants?

  Plants that reproduce using spores e.g moss
• What is the order of classification?

  Domain, Kingdom, Phylum, Class. Order, Family, Genus, Species
• Why do we use Latin in classification?

  As its a universal language
• What’s a morphological adaptation?

  A morphological adaptation is a physical or structural trait that helps an organism survive in its environment.
• What’s an example of a morphological adaptation?

  Polar bears have thick fur and small ears to retain body heat.
• What a behavioural adaptation?


  The way an organism reacts to its environment which aids its survival
• How can biodiversity be conserved (legislations + projects)?

  CITIES,SSSI, captive breeding programmes (zoos), national parks, seed banks, local action plans.
• Why is it impractical to count all of the organisms in a population?

  1. animals moving
  2. animals could die
  3. difficult to find them all
• How do biologists count organisms?

  Using random sampling techniques e.g quadrats
• What’s a quadrat?

  A square 1m frame to measure organisms
• How do biologists estimate population by using quadrats?

  Total found * Total area/total area sampled
• What’s a transect?

  A line across a habitat with quadrats spaced equally along it.
• What are transects used for?

  To investigate a gradual change in habitat
• Why is biodiversity important?

  It’s a source of food, materials and medicines.
• What do animals compete for?

  Space, food, water and mates
• What do plants compete for?

  Space, Minerals, Water and Light
• What are alien species?

  Species that are not native to a particular ecosystem or region.
• What’s an example of a bad alien species?

  The cane toad in Australia.
• Why was the cane toad an alien species?

  1. It had no natural predators
  2. Was a predator to many
  3. Exused toxins that killed predators
  4. Carried diseases
• What is the capture/recapture technique?

  1. animals are captured
  2. they are counted and marked
  3. return to the area a few days later
  4. count the number of marked and unmarked animals
• What must you make sure you do before using the capture/recapture method?

  1. The markings won’t make them a target
  2. The area can’t be flooded/ damaged
• What is biological control?

  Using one organism to keep the numbers of another organism under control
• What are the advantages of biological control?

  1. It’s specific to the pest
  2. Theres no need to introduce it
  3. Pest doesn’t develop resistance
• What are the disadvantages of biological control?

  1. Delay between introducing and reduction
  2. Doesn't eradicate the pest
• What should you check before using biological control?

  1. Check if it carries disease
  2. Check for a natural predator
  3. Check it doesn’t kill anything else but pest
• What is biodiversity?

  The total number and variety of species in a given area.