Taxonomic GroupsBiology 8(C)

Learning Objectives• Compare characteristics of taxonomic

groups, including archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals

Taxonomic Groups

All living organisms are grouped into one of a few major categories.• Most widely accepted classification system

used by taxonomists groups organisms into six major groups or kingdoms– Archaea– Bacteria– Protista– Fungi– Plantae– Animalia

Taxonomic Groups

Archaea – single-celled microorganisms

• Examples: – Methane-producing

archaea– Sulfur-producing

archaea– Thermophiles

Characteristics• Microscopic• Many live in

extreme environments

• Unicellular prokaryotes

• Unique cell wall• Autotrophs or

heterotrophs

Archaea

Image by Wing-Chi Poon [CC-BY-1.0]

Bacteria – single-celled microorganisms

• Examples: – E. coli– Salmonella– Streptococcus– Staphylococcus

Characteristics• Microscopic• Unicellular

prokaryotes• Cell wall made of

peptidoglycan• Autotrophs or

heterotrophs

Bacteria

Protista – most diverse kingdom

• Examples: – Algae– Paramecia– Amoeba– Diatoms

Characteristics• Unicellular or

multicellular• Eukaryotes• Autotrophic or

heterotrophic• Some have cell

walls• Many are

microscopic• Many are

aquatic• Some are motile

Protista

Fungi – similar to plants but not photosynthetic

• Examples:– Mushrooms– Yeasts– Molds

Characteristics• All eukaryotes– Some unicellular– Most

multicellular • Cell wall made of

chitin• Absorb nutrients • Many are

saprobes • All sessile

Fungi

Image by Maciej Lewandowski [CC-BY-1.0]

Plantae – both vascular and nonvascular plants

• Examples: – Mosses– Ferns– Conifers– Flowering plants

Characteristics• All eukaryotes– Most

multicellular– Some unicellular

• Cell wall made of cellulose

• Photosynthetic autotrophs

• Contain chloroplasts

• Sessile

Plantae

Image by Eric Guinther [CC-BY-1.0]

Animalia – most complex kingdom• Vertebrates• Invertebrates

• Examples:– Mammals– Birds– Insects– Worms

Characteristics• Multicellular

(eukaryotes)• No cell walls• Heterotrophic• Most are motile

Animalia

Image by Eric Guinther [CC-BY-1.0]

Taxonomic Groups

Group (Kingdom)

Major Characteristics Examples

Archaea Prokaryotes, cell wall, may live in extreme environments, unicellular, autotrophs or heterotrophs

Methane-producing archaea, thermophiles

Bacteria Prokaryotes, cell wall made of peptidoglycan, unicellular, autotrophs or heterotrophs

E. coli, salmonella

Protista Eukaryotes, unicellular or multicellular, autotrophs or heterotrophs, some have cell wall, many are microscopic

Algae, paramecia, euglena, diatoms

Fungi Eukaryotes, most are multicellular, cell walls, absorbs nutrients through cell wall, sessile

Mushrooms, molds, yeasts

Plantae Eukaryotes, most are multicellular, cell walls composed of cellulose, photosynthetic, autotrophs

Ferns, mosses, conifers, flowering plants

Animalia Eukaryotes, multicellular, heterotrophs, most are motile

Mammals, birds, insects, worms, sponges

Learning Objectives• Compare characteristics of taxonomic

groups, including archaea, bacteria, protists, fungi, plants, and animals

Taxonomic Groups