The Living World-NCERT Limits-PART 2

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Taxonomic categories:

 The category is a part of overall taxonomic arrangement and it is called the taxonomic category and all categories together constitute the taxonomic hierarchy. Each category, referred to as a unit of classification, in fact, represents a rank and is commonly termed as taxon (pl.: taxa).

Remember, groups represent category. Category further denotes rank. Each rank or taxon, in fact, represents a unit of classification. These taxonomic groups/ categories are distinct biological entities and not merely morphological aggregates.

The taxonomic categories are

This can be remembered with the clue 'King Play Cards on Flat Green Stool '

The points you must remember are

• from species to kingdom(ascending order)- specificity/common character decreases
• from species to kingdom(ascending order)- general character increases
•  Lower the taxa, more are the characteristics that the members within the taxon share. Higher the category, greater is the difficulty of determining the relationship to other taxa at the same level. 

• Species

1. Coined by John Ray
2. Defined by Ernst Mayr
3. Has fundamental similarities and able to interbreed freely
4. Basic,smallest one

• Genus-a group of related species which has more characters in common in comparison to species
• Family-characterised on the basis of both vegetative and reproductive features
• Order-assemblage of families which exhibit a few similar characters.
• Class
• Phylum(coined by Cuvier)/Division(coined by Eichler)
• Kingdom-Largest one

TAXONIMICAL AIDS:

HERBARIUM:

• a store house of collected plant specimens that are dried, pressed and preserved on sheets
• arranged according to a universally accepted system of classification
• a store house or repository for future use
• only for plants
• serve as quick referral systems in taxonomical studies.
• Herbarium sheets also carry a label providing information about date and place of collection, English, local and botanical names, family, collector’s name

BOTANICAL GARDENS:

• specialised gardens have collections of living plants for reference.
• plants are grown for identification purposes
• Ex-situ
•  famous botanical gardens are at 

1. Kew (England), 
2. Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah (India) 
3. at National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (India). 

MUSEUM:

•  collections of preserved plant and animal specimens for study and reference

1. Insects - in insect boxes - after collecting,killing,pinning
2. Larger animals - stuffed and preserved
3. Also have skeletons of large animals

• has both plant and  animal specimens

ZOOLOGICAL PARKS:

• for animals
• conditions similar to their natural habitats are provided
• also a place for recreational activities

KEYS:

• another taxonomical aid used for identification of plants and animals based on the similarities and dissimilarities
• based on the contrasting characters generally in a pair called couplet
• represents the choice made between two opposite options which leads to acceptance of one and the rejection of other
• Each statement in the key is called a lead
• Keys are generally analytical in nature.

FLORA-account of habitat and description,provide index to plant species in a given area

MANUALS-provides information for identification of name of species

MONOGRAPHS-information on any one taxon

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