Macrotaxonomy
Taxonomy
The term first proposed by the Swiss originated botanist Augustin
Pyramus de Candolle in 1813 for the plant classification.
He used the term in his famous book—Theory elementaire de la
botanique (Elementary Theory of Botany). So taxonomy is the
arrangement of the plants and animals on the basis of some laws.
Taxonomy
Simpson (1961) has defined taxonomy as the theoretical study of
classification including its bases, principles, procedures and rules. Ernst
Mayr also defines taxonomy as the theory and practice of classifying
organisms. So the science of classification is known as taxonomy
Christoffersen (1995) has defined taxonomy as “the practice of
recognizing, naming, and ordering taxa into a system of words
consistent with any kind of relationships among taxa that the
investigator has discovered in nature”.
Taxonomy
The process of taxonomy involves two distinct steps:
1. Correct recognition and definition of the organisms and their
relationships and
2. Application of suitable designations for the organisms and to
different groups which include them.
There are three levels of taxonomy corresponding
with three periods of taxonomy:
1. Alpha taxonomy:
The level of taxonomy by which species are characterized and
naming of the species is done.
2. Beta taxonomy:
The level of taxonomy by which the arrangement of species in
their natural system of categories is made
3. Gamma taxonomy:
The level of taxonomy which deals with the intra specific
variations and evolutionary sequence and also a causal
interpretation of organic diversity.
Microtaxonomy
vs
Macrotaxonomy
Macrotaxonomy
Macrotaxonomy is defined as "the branch of taxonomy that
deals with the categorization or grouping of organisms
above the species level on a large scale."
Macro is derived from the Greek term Makros, which
means huge, taxis, which means arrangement, and nomus,
which means rules.
Homology
Are anatomical features of different
organisms that have similar appearance or
function because they were inherited from a
common ancestor
An individual living thing, such as an animal or
plant, is called an organism. The term ‘living
organism’ is often used to describe something
which displays all the characteristics of living
things.
Analogies
Are anatomical features that have the same
form or function in different species that no
known common ancestor.
Who was the scientist that
proposed an orderly system for
classifying the variety of
organisms?
The Linnaeus Classification
System
The first individual to propose an orderly system
for classifying the variety of organisms in our
planet was Linnaeus.
In his system of classification, the finest unit in the
organization of life is the species.
Classification System
There are two main types of classification system:
1. Artificial Classification
2. Natural Classification
Artificial Classification
Which places organism into groups for purposes of
convenience
These groups are usually based on one or a few easily
observed features (e.g. where they live, how they
move, or their size)
Aristotle classified animals into:
Enaima – animals with red blood
Anaima – animals without red blood
Ovipary - egg laying
Vivipary – giving birth to young ones
Advantages of Artificial
Classification
Only few characters are considered
It is easy to use and reproducible
Stable in classification
Disadvantages of Artificial
Classification
Thecriteria used for classification are superficial
and do not reflect the natural relationships
The system does not reflect the evolutionary
relationship between organisms
Many unrelated organisms are placed in the same
group on the basis on the same group
Provides only limited information
Natural Classification
It is a system of classification based on natural
similarities/relationship
The groupings is based on many features, internal as
well as external
Uses information from many branches of biology
Natural Classification
Most classification is use today are natural and
they aim to reflect phylogenic relationships
Based on similarities and differences in the
large number of characters
Classification basing on form or natural
relationship between organisms
Advantages of Natural Classification
Itavoids the heterogenous grouping of unrelated
organisms
Ithelps on placing only related groups of
organisms together
It indicates natural relationship between organisms
Italso provides a clear view on the evolutionary
relationship between different groups of organisms
Disadvantages of Natural Classification
Sometimes closely related organisms can differ in
important properties.
Itcan be difficult to determine how organisms are
related; consequently natural classification
systems tend to change as new information
Taxonomic Characters
A taxonomic character is any attribute of a member
of a taxon by which it differs or may differ from a
member of a taxon
A characteristic by which two taxa agree but differ
from members of a third taxon is a taxonomic
character
Kinds of Characters
1. Morphological Character
2. Physiological Character
3. Ecological Character
4. Ethological Character
5. Geographical Character
Morphological Character
1. General External Morphology
Plumage of bird
Pelage of mammals
Scale counts of fishes and reptiles
Morphological Character
2. Special Structure
Differences in genetalic structure
Color pattern and other aspects of coloration
Morphological Character
3. Internal Morphology
Both soft and hard parts of practically all groups of
higher animals have been used as taxonomic
characters
Morphological Character
4. Larval Stages and Embryology
Various immature or larval stages, the embryology
and sometimes even the eggs may provide
taxonomic information.
Comparative studies of embryological characters like
the cleavage pattern, blastulation, gastrulation are
also used in certain phyla
Morphological Character
5. Karyology
This is the description of chromosome structure,
size, shape, and number etc.
Physiological Character
This group is hard to define
All structures are products of physiological
processes and are thus physiological characters
These characters cannot be studied in preserved
material
Ecological Character
Every species has their own niche in nature, differing
from its nearest relatives in:
Food preference
Breeding season
Tolerance to various physical factors
Resistance to predators, competitors and pathogens
Ethological Character
Behavior is one of the most important sources of
taxonomic characters
They are clearly superior to morphological characters
in the study of closely related species
Geographical Character
This are among the most useful tools for clarifying a
confused taxonomic picture and for testing taxonomic
hypothesis
Taxonomists are primarily interested in two kinds of
geographical characters
1. General biogeographic patterns
2. The allopatric-sympatric relationship
A chart-style dichotomous
key showing the
classification of a set of
tropical trees.
Evaluation
Createa dichotomous key using the following
organisms:
Tortoise Polar Bear
Carp Grizzly Bear
Toad Parrot
Ostrich Eels
Crocodiles Penguin
