2. The five kingdoms of living beings
The largest taxonomic rank is the kingdom.
There are five kingdoms: Monera, Protoctist, Fungi, Plants (or Plantae) and Animals (or Animalia). Living beings are included in one of them following the criteria that are summarised in this table:
KINGDOM |
MONERA |
PROTOCTIST |
FUNGI |
PLANTS |
ANIMALS |
|
Number of cells |
Unicellular |
Unicellular and Multicellular |
Unicellular and Multicellular |
Multicellular |
Multicellular |
|
Type of cells |
Prokaryotic |
Eukaryotic |
Eukaryotic |
Eukaryotic |
Eukaryotic |
|
Level of organization |
Cellular |
Cellular and multicellular (without real tissues) |
Cellular and multicellular (without real tissues) |
Multicellular (with real tissues and organs) |
Multicellular (with real tissues, organs and systems) |
|
Vital functions |
Nutrition |
Autotrophic and Heterotrophic |
Autotrophic and Heterotrophic |
Heterotrophic |
Autotrophic (Photosynthesis) |
Heterotrophic |
Relation |
Very Simplex |
Simplex |
Simplex |
Complex |
Very complex |
|
Reproduction |
Asexual |
Asexual and Sexual |
Asexual and Sexual |
Asexual and Sexual |
Sexual |
|
EXAMPLES |
Bacteria |
Protozoa Algae |
Mushrooms Moulds Yeasts |
Mosses Trees Grass |
Insects Amphibians Mammals |
The philogenetic tree is the way to represent graphically the evolutionary relationship between living beings:
READING ACTIVITIES
After reading the text, copy and answer the following questions into your notebook:
Remember: you must make complete sentences.
2.1. A scientist has to classify five unknown species. He has put all
the information he has about them in the next table.
Look at the table and try to help to the scientist.
|
Species |
||||
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
|
With prokaryotic cells |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
With eukaryotic cells |
+ |
+ |
+ |
- |
+ |
Unicellular |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
- |
Multicellular |
+ |
- |
+ |
- |
+ |
With real tissues |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
+ |
Without real tissues |
- |
- |
+ |
- |
- |
Autotroph |
- |
- |
+ |
+ |
+ |
Heterotroph |
+ |
+ |
- |
- |
- |
2.2. Listen and identify what kingdom of living beings is described:
a. Monera
b. Protoctists
c. Fungi
d. Plants
e. Animals