Diversity
in living organisms
Important terms:
1)Biodiversity
: the variety of life forms found in a
region
2)Classification:
arranging organisms into various groups on the basis of similarities and
differences is called classification
3)Kingdom : a
group of all organism sharing a set of distinguished common characters
4)Species : a
group of similar individuals with similar morphological characters that are
capable of interbreeding and produce their own kind
5)Bilateral
symmetry : body organization in which one medium plane can divide an organism
into two halves, each being a mirror image of the other
6)Radial
symmetry : arrangement of similar parts around a central body as in a wheel is
known as radial symmetry. Any longitudinal plane along the diameter can divide
the animal into exact halves
7)Coelom : body
cavity in which various body organs are placed in triploblastic animals is
termed as coelom
8)Haemocoel : a
reduced body cavity which is filled with blood
9)Diploblastic
: animals having a body made of two layers of cells
10)Triploblastic
: animals having a body made of three layers of cells ectoderm, mesoderm and
endoderm
11)Ectoderm :
outermost layer formed in the development of a multicellular animal from which
skin and nervous system is derived
12)Mesoderm :
middle layer formed in the early development of a multicellular animal from
which muscles are derivd
13)Endoderm :
innermost layer formed in the early development of a multicellular animal from
which the gut and digestive organs are derived
14)Endoskeleton
: the bony and cartilaginous supporting structure within the animal body
15)Exoskeleton
: chitinous ,or other hard material covering the body surface and providing
protection and support
16)Operculum :
a structure serving as lid or cover in certain animals
17)Ostia :
holes leading to a canal system in sponges
18)Notochord :
a flexible rod of turgid cells located along the back of the animals separting
the nervous tissue from the gut. It is replaced by the vertebral column in
adult vertebrates. It is a part of skeleton system
19)Nerve cord :
a solid strand of nervous tissue forming part of central nervous system in
vertebrates. Nerve cord is a part of nervous system
Short Answer Questions
Q1 What are the
criteria on which Whittaker based his system of classification
A 1) cell structure----prokaryotic or
eukaryotic
2) body organization----unicellular or
multicellular
3) modes of nutrition--- autotrophs or
heterotrophs
Q 2 Enlist the
main features of organisms placed under Protista
A 1) most of the members are unicellular and
primarily aquatic
2) euokaryotic cell organelles and nucleus
3) bear flagella or cilia for movement
4) mode of nutrition is absorptive,
ingestive or photo autotrophic
5) reproduction may be asexual or sexual
Q 3 Main
features of kingdom Fungi
A i) non green due to absence of chlorophyll
ii) heterotrophs , obtaining food from dead
and decaying organisms by absorption
iii) cell wall is chitinous and cellulosic
iv) asexual reproduction is by spore
formation. Some also exhibits sexual reproduction
Q4 Main
characteristics of kingdom Plantae
A i) all complex multicellular plants that
prepare their own food by photosynthesis
ii) possess cell wall made up of cellulose
iii) immobile and donot show locomotion
iv) unlimited growth and grow throughout
their lives
Q5 On which
basis is the plant kingdom classified
A i)
evolution
ii) presence or absence of vascular
tissues for transport of food and water
iii) presence or absence of seeds
iv) presence or absence of fruits
Q6 Main features of Algae
A i) autotrophs as they possess chlorophyll
ii) mainly aquatic but some also grow in
moist places
iii) body is not divided into root, stem and
leaves
Q7 Main
features of division Bryophyta
A i) Bryophytes are called amphibians of plant
kingdom
ii) The plant body is commonly
differentiated to form stem and leaf like structures. But there is no specific
tissue for conduction of water and food
iii) vegetative reproduction is very
common
iv) sexual reproduction is of oogamous
typei.e. the male gamete is small and motile and female gamete is non motile
and large
v) e.g. moss, Funaria and Marchantia
Q8 Main
features of Pteridophytes
A i) plant body is divided into root, stem and
leaves
ii) they have a well developed vascular
system(xylem and phloem)
iii) multicellular reproductive system. The
fertilized egg form embryo
Q9 Main
features of kingdom Monera
A i) unicellular, microscopic prokaryotes
living in moist conditions
ii) cell wall may or may not be present
iii) nucleus is not enclosed in nuclear
membrane
iv) cell organelles are also not covered
with a membrane
v) mode of nutrition may be autotrophic or
heterotrophic
vi) reproduction is asexual by binary fission
or budding
Q10 How are
phanerogams classified?
A Phanerogams are classified depending on the
presence or absence of fruits. They are of two types
i)
Gymnosperms
possess naked seeds i.e.not enclosed by fruits
ii)
Angiosperms
, in which the seeds are enclosed within the fruit
Angiosperms are
further divided into two types
i)
Monocotyledons,
which have single cotyledon in their seeds e.g. wheat, rice etc.
ii)
Dicotyledons,
which have two cotyledons in their seeds e.g. gram, pea etc.
Q11 Name the
five kingdoms of organisms and the types of organisms present in them
A i) Monera : containing bacteria and
cyanobacteria
ii)Protista : having unicellular organisms
iii)
Plantae
: contains all the photosynthetic plants
iv)
Fungi
: contains the organisms in which chlorophyll is absent and the food is
obtained through absorption
v)
Animalia
: contains all the multicellular consumers i.e. the animals which depend on
plants or other animals for food
Q12 What are
Lichens?
A Lichens are called compound plants as algae and
fungi live together in close association, as a result of which both are
benefitted. This relationship is called symbiosis. They occur as greyish green
growths on rocks, bark of the tree or on the ground
Q13 What are
mycoplasma?
A Mycoplasmas are the smallest and the simplest
organisms . they are prokaryotes having nucleoid. They are heterotrophs and their body can change forms easily. They
are also called MLO,i.e. Mycoplasma Like Organisms
Q14 What is the
criterion for classification of organisms as belonging to kingdom Monera or
Protista?
A Prokaryotes belong to the kingdom Monera and
single celled eukaryotes belong to the kingdom Protista
Q15 How are
gymnosperms different from angiosperms
A Gymnosperms : plants of this group are
usually evergreen, perennial and woody. The plants bear naked seeds. Ovules are
not enclosed in ovary. Xylem lacks vessels and phloem does not contain
companion cells
Angiosperms : plants of this group may be
annual, biennial or perennial. They may be woody or non woody. Seeds are
enclosed in fruits. Reproductive organs are flowers. Xylem contains vessels and
phloem contains companion cells
Q16 How are the
criteria for deciding divisions in plants different from the criteria for
deciding the sub groups among the animals?
A The criteria
for dividing the plants include
1) Differentiation of the plant body
2) Vascular tissues
3) Seed producing ability
4) The seeds enclosed within the fruits
But the animals
can’t be divided into groups on these criteria. It is because the basic designs
of animals are very different from plants. They are divided on the basis of
their body structure.
Diversity (2)
Animal kingdom:- salient features of various phylum
1.
Phylum Porifera
i)
Found in marine or fresh water
ii)
Multicellular, do not form tissues
iii)
Radial symmetry
iv)
Sessile(attached to surface),can’t move
v)
Pores all over the body,osculum on the top
vi)
Reproduction,asexual by budding and sexual by
fertilization
vii)
Commonly called sponges
viii)
E.g. Sycon,Spongilla
2.
Coelenterata
i)
Found in aquatic (fresh water or marine)
ii)
Radial symmetry
iii)
Live either in colonies e.g. corals or solitary
iv)
E.g. Hydra, Jelly fish, Sea anemone
3.
Platyhelminthes (flat worm)
i)
Parasitic, ribbon like
ii)
Bilateral symmetry
iii)
Triploblastic
iv)
Hermaphrodite(both sex organs , male and female
present in one animal)
v)
E.g. Tape worm, Liver fluke
4. Nematoda
(aschelminthes)
i) parasitic
ii) bilateral
symmetry
iii) cylindrical
body
iv)triploblastic
v)Sexes are
separate
vi)
E.g. Round worm, Pin worm (Ascaris)
4.
Annelida
5.
Annelida
i)
Found in fresh water, marine water or even on land
ii)
Body is elongated and segmented
iii)
Bilateral symmetry
iv)
True body cavity
v)
Sexes may be separated or united
vi)
E.g. Earthworm, Leech
6.
Arthopoda
i)
Found everywhere
ii)
Arthropod (jointed legs)
iii)
Open circulatory systemi.e. blood doesn’t flow in blood
vessels
iv)
Body divided into head ,thorax and abdomen
v)
Bilateral symmetry and segmented
vi)
Body covered with chitinous exoskeleton
vii)
Body cavity is blood filled and called haemocoel
viii)
E.g. Cockroach, Butterfly
7.
Mollusca
i)
Soft, little segmented
ii)
Bilateral symmetry
iii)
Open circulatory system
iv)
Kidney like organs for excretion
v)
Bilateral symmetry
vi)
E.g. Pila (snail) , octopus
8.
Echinodermata
i)
Free living marine animals
ii)
Triploblastic and have coelomic cavitry
iii)
Water driven tube system used for moving around
iv)
Body surface is covered with calcareous spines so
they are also called spiny skinned animals
v)
E.g,. Star fish, Sea urchin
9.
Chordate
(A)
Protochordata
i)
Marine animals
ii)
Bilateral symmetry, triploblastic, have coelom
iii)
Notochord is present
iv)
E.g. Balanoglossus, Herdemania
(B)
Vertebrata
i)
possess a solid notochord
ii)
bilateral symmetry
iii)
true vertebral column
iv)
dorsal hollow nerve cord
v)
triploblastic
vi)
respire through lungs and aquatic forms through
gills
vii)
there are five classes of vertebrates—Pisces,
Amphibians, Reptiles, Aves, Mammalia
Q give the point of differences between non chordates and
chordates
A
Non chordates
|
chordates
|
1. vertebral
column is absent
2. central
nervous system is solid and ventral
3. if heart is
present,it is dorsal
4. haemoglobin,if
present is dissolved in plasma
5. the anus is
posterior,so no post anal tail
6. e.g.
protozoa, arthopoda
|
1. vertebral
column is present
2. central
nervous system is hollow and dorsal
3. heart is
ventral
4. haemoglobin
is present in red blood corpuscles
5. a post anal
tail is present
6. e.g. Pisces,
Aves, reptiles etc.
|
Salient features of classes:-
1)
Pisces
i)
Water living animals
ii)
Skin covered by plates or scales
iii)
Respiration by gills
iv)
Streamlined body with muscular tail
v)
Cold blooded
vi)
Two chambered heart
vii)
Lay eggs
viii)
E.g. Rohu, Sharks, Scolidon
2)
Amphibia:
i)
Found both in water and land
ii)
Moist body without scales
iii)
2 pairs of limbs
iv)
3 chambered heart
v)
Respiration by lungs,gills and skin
vi)
E.g. Frog (Rana tigrina), Toad
3)
Reptillia:
i)
cold blooded
ii)
covered by scales
iii)
respiration by lungs only
iv)
3 chambered heart except crocodile that has 4
chambred heart
v)
E.g. snakes, lizards,crocodile
4)
Aves:
i)
Warm blooded
ii)
4 chambered heart
iii)
Breathe through lungs
iv)
Lay eggs
v)
Body covered by feathers
vi)
Fore limbs modified for flight
vii)
Hollow bones
viii)
Beak is present
ix)
E.g. Pigeon, sppparrow
5)
Mammalia:
i)
Warm blooded
ii)
4 chambered heart
iii)
Skin has hair,sweat glands and oil glands
iv)
Give birth to young ones except Platypus which lay
eggs
v)
Presence of mammary glands for production of milk
to nourish the young ones
vi)
E.g. rat, whale, man
Q List out some common features in cat,rat and bat
A Bat,cat and rat belong to the class mammalian and all have
following common features:
i)
Have notochord at some stages of life cycle
ii)
Are warm blooded
iii)
Have four chambered heart
iv)
Have skin covered with hair and sweat and oil
glands
Q Why do we keep snake and turtle in the same class?
A Both snake and turtle
are kept in the same class because both are : i) cold blooded, ii) have
scales,iii) breathe through lungs, iv) 3 chambered heart, v) lay eggs without
covering
Q Distinguish between the 5 classes of vertebrates on the
basis of characters like habitat, kind of exoskeleton, respiratory organs and
other distinct features
A Differences b/w
Pisces, Amphibia,Reptilia, Aves and Mammals are as follows
character
|
Pisces
|
Amphibia
|
Reptilia
|
Aves
|
Mammals
|
Habitat
|
Aquatic
|
Terrestrial&
aquatic
|
Terrestrial
|
Arboreal
|
Terrestrial
Aquatic&
arboreal
|
Exoskeleton
|
Slimy scales
|
absent
|
Dry and scaly
|
Feathers and claws
|
Hair and nails etc.
|
Respiratory organs
|
Gills
|
Gills ,lungs and skin
|
Lungs
|
Lungs
|
Lungs
|
Body temperature
|
Cold blooded
|
Cold
|
Cold
|
Warm
|
Warm
|
Heart
|
2 chambered
|
3 chambered
|
4 chambered
|
4 chambered
|
4 chambered
|
Locomotary organs
|
Fins
|
Limbs
|
Limbs but absent in snakes
|
Wings and limbs
|
Limbs
|
Others
|
Body is streamlined. They are oviparous
|
They have webbed feet, eggs are laid in water and larvae are
aquatic
|
They are oviparous and some are viviparous e.g. lizard and
snake.
|
Body is covered by feathers and forelimbs are modified into
wings. Their bones are hollow
|
Presence of mammary glands. There are hair on the body. They
are viviparous
|
Q State reason for the following
1)
Echidna and platypus lay eggs but are considered
as mammals
A They have mammary glands
for the production of milk to nourish their young ones
2)
Forelimbs of birds are modified
A to reduce body weight
for flight
3)
Crocodiles have 4-chambered heart but are still
reptiles
A crocodiles are cold
blooded, lay eggs, have scale on their
body