Midterm 2 Flashcards
Who came up with the idea of biodiversity classification? What did they invent?
Carl Von Linnaeus - invented binomial nomenclature = classical taxonomy system
What did Linnaeus believe about organisms? Suggested?
Believed in immutability of species = suggested world’s biodiversity originated east Turkey where Noah’s ark landed
Why use binomial nomenclature and not common names? 5 reasons
1- consistency
2- clear communication between languages
3- some species have no common name
4- clear distinction between species and subspecies
5- evolutionary (phylogenetic) interpretation
What is taxonomy?
The science and system of classifying organism
What is taxon (or plural Taxa)?
A single level in the taxonomic classification system
What is systematics?
Science and system of organization and classifying Taxa and understanding the evolution of traits based on their phylogenetic relations
What are the 2 methods of systematics?
1- phenetic
2- phylogenetic
Explain phenetic as a method of systematics
Species are grouped according to their overall similarities
Explain phylogenetic as a method of systematics
Species are classified according to how they shared a common ancestor
Identify the 2 methods and 3 schools of systematics and which ones are linked
(Method) phenetic –> (school) numerical taxonomy
(Method) phylogenetic –>
(school) cladistics = phylogenetic systematics
(school) evolutionary taxonomy = evolutionary systematics
What does scientific nomenclature and taxonomy reflect?
Phylogenetic relationships = all members of a tax on should share a single common ancestor
How can we figure out phylogenetic relationships if we can’t go back in time?
We use evolutionary principles to compare traits among Taxa
What is phylogenetic systematics?
Philosophy and methodology for the reconstruction of ancestor - descendant relationships amongst a set of Taxa
What are the 4 basic tenets of phylogenetic systematics?
1- characters
2- history of changes
3- distribution of characters
4- monophyletic groups
What is the first basic tenets of phylogenetic systematics?
Characters used to reconstruct a phylogeny are modifications of pre-existing characters
What is the second basic tenets of phylogenetic systematics?
History of changes in characters reflect the ancetsor-descendant relationships of organisms so bearing the characters
What is the third basic tenets of phylogenetic systematics?
Distribution of characters among a set of Taxa is used to identify monophyletic groups
What is the fourth basic tenets of phylogenetic systematics?
Monophyletic groups are identified by shared derived traits. All other Taxa outside the monophyletic group possess the ancestral trait
What is cladistics?
Relationships are determined by the presence of synapomorphies = shared/derived characters
What are the 2 ways characters can occur?
1- plesiomorphic = primitive or original state
2- apomorphic = derived state
What is the monophyletic group?
Defined by synapomorphies (contains hypothetical common ancestor and all of its descendants)
What is paraphyletic group?
Group containing a hypothetical common ancestor and some (but not all) of its descendants
What is the polyphyletic group?
Taxa not including their hypothetical common ancestor
How does phylogenetic classification relate to cladistics?
It groups species based on their most recent common ancestor