Kingdom Systems of Classification

Chapter 2

Biological Classification

Biological classification is the practice of categorizing living and extinct organisms into groups based on shared traits. Classifying organisms is necessary because it allows us to better understand biodiversity. It aids in the identification of living entities as well as the comprehension of their diversity. Classification aids in our understanding of different types of plants and animals and their characteristics, similarities, and differences. It allows us to see how complex organisms develop from simpler organisms. Different categories are used to understand and research the characteristics, similarities, and differences among various living species. Classification is the tool that allows us to manage a wide range of living organisms. Understanding the inter-relationships between different groups of organisms is critical. Other biological sciences are built on the foundation of classification.

Kingdom Systems of Classification:

Aristotle was the first to attempt to classify things on a more scientific basis. He classified plants into trees, shrubs, and herbs based on simple physical characteristics. He also separated the animals into two groups: those with red blood and those without. A Two Kingdom system of classification was devised during Linnaeus's time, with Plantae and Animalia kingdoms encompassing all plants and animals, respectively. Eukaryotes and prokaryotes, unicellular and multicellular organisms, photosynthetic (green algae), and non-photosynthetic (fungi) species were all lumped together in this system. Plant and animal classifications were simple to implement and understand, but a huge number of creatures did not fit into either group. As a result, the long-used two-kingdom classification was determined to be inadequate. Aside from gross appearance, there was a need to include other characteristics such as cell structure, wall nature, manner of nourishment, habitat, reproduction strategies, evolutionary linkages, and so on. As a result, classification systems for living organisms have experienced several alterations over time. Though the plant and animal kingdoms have remained consistent throughout all systems, the understanding of which groups/organisms should be included inside these kingdoms has evolved; the number and character of additional kingdoms have also been interpreted differently over time by different scientists.

A Five Kingdom Classification was proposed by R.H. Whittaker in 1969. Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia were the kingdoms he defined. Cell structure, body arrangement, manner of nourishment, reproduction, and phylogenetic links are among his key classification criteria. A three-domain approach has also been proposed, which divides Kingdom Monera into two domains and leaves the remaining eukaryotic kingdoms in the third domain, resulting in a six-kingdom categorization.

Let's take a look at this five-kingdom classification to see what concerns and considerations affected the system. Plants included bacteria, blue-green algae, fungi, mosses, ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms in previous classification systems. The fact that all of the species in this kingdom had a cell wall in their cells served as a unifying characteristic. This grouped people who had a lot of things in common but also had a lot of things in common. It brought together prokaryotic bacteria and blue-green algae (cyanobacteria), as well as other eukaryotic species. It also combined unicellular and multicellular species together, such as Chlamydomonas and Spirogyra being categorized together under algae.The classification did not distinguish between the heterotrophic fungus and the autotrophic green plants, albeit they did have a distinct difference in the composition of their cell walls, with the fungi having chitin and the green plants having a cellulose cell wall. When these qualities were taken into account, the fungi were given their own kingdom: Kingdom Fungi. Kingdom Monera was created to unite all prokaryotic species together, while Kingdom Protista was created to group all unicellular eukaryotic organisms together. Chlamydomonasand Chlorella (both of which have cell walls and were previously put in Algae within Plants) have been combined with Paramoecium and Amoeba in the kingdom Protista (which were earlier placed in the animal kingdom which lack cell walls). It has brought together organisms that were previously classified into various kingdoms.