biological classification. the diversity of marine life the ocean is home to a wide variety of...
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The diversity of marine life
The ocean is home to a wide variety of organisms
Marine organisms range from microscopic bacteria and algae to the largest animal in the world (blue whale)
Number of known marine species: 250,000
Classification of living things
Organisms can be classified into one of three domains of life:
Archaea
Bacteria
Eukarya
Classification of living things
Organisms can also be classified into one of five kingdoms:
MoneraProtoctista (Protista)FungiPlantaeAnimalia
Classification of living things
Taxonomic classification includes the following increasingly specific groupings:
KingdomPhylum (Division for plants)ClassOrderFamilyGenusSpecies
Taxonomic classification of selected organisms
Category Human Killer whale Giant kelp
Kingdom Animalia Animalia Protoctista
Phylum Chordata Chordata Phaeophyta
Subphylum Vertebrata Vertebrata
Class Mammalia Mammalia Phaeophycae
Order Primates Cetacea Laminariales
Family Hominidae Delphinidae Lessoniaceae
Genus Homo Orcinus Macrocystis
Species sapiens orca pyrifera
Classification of marine organisms
Marine organisms can be classified into one of three groups based on habitat and mobility:
1. Plankton (floaters)Phytoplankton (drifting plants and algae)Zooplankton (drifting animals)
2. Nekton (swimmers)3. Benthos (bottom dwellers)
Life cycle of a squid
Squid experience benthic, planktonic, and nektonic stages
Squid are considered meroplankton (opposite = holoplankton)
Distribution of species on Earth
The land has more species because it has greater environmental variability than the ocean
Most ocean species are benthic because of greater environmental variability compared to pelagic environments