Characteristics of the 5 Kingdoms

Basically, the Kingdoms of life (The 5 kingdoms) was divided on the basis of two aspects, two points. The first was kingdom Classification System, while the second was Division Classification system.

Characteristics of the 5 Kingdoms

The 5 Kingdoms

The 5 Kingdoms (Kingdom Classification System)

In 1969, Robert H, Whittaker described a system of classification. This classification forms five kingdoms. This basis of classification of Whittaker is:

(a) Cellular organization

(b) Mode of nutrition.

There are following five kingdoms:

  1. Monera: The members of this kingdom are prokaryotes. The kingdom Monera contains bacteria and the cyanobacteria.
  2. Protista: Members of the kingdom Protista are eukaryotic. They consist of single cells or colonies of cells. This kingdom includes Amoeba, Paramecium, etc.
  3. Plantae: Members of the kingdom Plantae are eukaryotic, multicellular, and photosynthetic. Plants have walled cells. They are usually non-motile.
  4. Fungi: Members of the kingdom Fungi are also eukaryotic and multicellular. They also have walled cells and are usually non- motile. Mode of nutrition distinguishes fungi from plants. Fungi are decomposers. Fungi digest organic matter outside the body and absorb the broken products.
  5. Animalia: Members of the kingdom Animalia are eukaryotic and multicellular. They feed by ingesting other organisms or parts of other organisms. Their cells lack walls and they are usually motile.

The 5 Kingdoms (Domain Classification System)

The systematists have concluded on the basis of studies of ribosomal RNA that all life shares a common ancestor. They find that there are three major evolutionary lineages. Each of these lineages is called a domain. The domain is present above the kingdom. There are three domains:

  1. Archaea: These are prokaryotic microbes. They live in extreme environment such as high temperature rift valleys on ocean floor, or high-salt or acidic environments. All members of the Archaea inhabit anaerobic environments. These environments show the conditions on the earth at the time of origin. The Archaea are the most primitive life form. Ancient Achaeans gave rise to two other domains of organisms.
  2. Eubacteria: These include true bacteria. These are included prokaryotic micro-organisms.
  3. Eukarya: The Eukarya include all eukaryotic organisms. The Eukarya diverged more recently than the Eubacteria from the Archaea. Thus, the Eukarya are more closely to Archaea than the Eubacteria. It includes the other four kingdoms of eukaryotes: Protista (Protoctista), fungi, Plantae and Animalia.

Classification of Plants

Plant biologists use the term division for the major plant groups within the plant kingdom. Division is equal to phylum. Divisions are further subdivided into classes, orders, families, and genera.

The classification scheme used in this text recognizes twelve divisions within the Plantae. These divisions are:

Non-Vascular Plants

1.      Division Bryopsida Mosses
2.      Division Hepaticopsida Liverworts
3.      Division Anthoceropsida Hornworts

Vascular Seed Less Plants

1.      Division Psilopsida Whisk Ferns
2.      Division Lycopsida Club Mosses
3.      Division Sphenopsida Horsetails
4.      Division Pteropsida Ferns

Gymnosperm: Naked Seeded Plants

1.      Division Coniferopsida
2.      Division Cycadopsida
3.      Division Ginkgopsida
4.      Division Gnetopsida

Angiosperms: Flowering Plants

1.      Division Anthophyta

 

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