If you were asked to describe your bedroom, then you probably would not have to name each individual thing, since this listing will last quite a long time. Instead, you would probably simplify all this by grouping things into categories such as books, toys, e, paintings, furniture, and so on. What is taxonomy? This is a science that studies the biological diversity of the animal and plant world through its classification.
Why is taxonomy necessary?
Imagine being able to describe a city without using different categories, such as cars, people, buildings, bridges and roads? That's what the taxonomy is for. Now try to imagine a scientist who has no way to unite all living things on the planet. In biology, systematics is a science that studies and classifies all life on the planet.
Two types of taxonomy
There are two closely related and overlapping levels of classification: taxonomic (known as the Linnaeus system) and phylogenetic.
- Taxonomic classifications of groups of living things based on common features. For example, animals that lay eggs and have scales, we call reptiles, and animals that have live births and fur or hair, we call mammals.
- Phylogenetic classifications use taxonomic names and show how groups of organisms are evolutionarily related to each other. For example, gorillas are more closely associated with people than with cockroaches.
Animal taxonomy is a science that studies and classifies the entire biological diversity of fauna. If we draw an analogy with human relations, then any living creature has a name (taxonomic classification), as well as a certain degree of kinship with other organisms. For example, chimpanzees and macaques will be, figuratively speaking, brothers, their uncle will be a gorilla, a person will be their distant relative, but they will not be familiar with a cockroach at all (phylogenesis). Plant taxonomy is a science that studies the enormous diversity of the plant world.
Karl Linney - the father of modern taxonomy
What would biologists do without a universal way of grouping organisms? That would be real chaos. For this priceless instrument, thanks should be given to Carl Linnaeus, also known as Carl von Linnaeus (1707-1778). The Swedish botanist, zoologist and doctor is regarded in modern science as the “father of systematics”. He was the first to consistently use a classification system (taxonomy) to classify organisms based on common attributes. Its at the same time rigorous and simple methodology gave quite scientific validity in the field of classification.
Biological diversity
Systematics is a science in biology that studies its huge variety of living beings, which is one of the defining features of the natural world. This scientific discipline is closely related to ecology and evolutionary biology. Systematics is a science that studies and considers how new species are formed, how certain ecological processes proceed, why some groups support an incredibly wide range of species, and some organisms simply die out.
This is due to the characteristics of various organisms, which allows a detailed study of specific groups. Systematics seeks to understand the history of life through the phylogenetic and genetic relationships of living things. Assessment of diversity and knowledge of the principles and procedures of this discipline are important in ecology, evolutionary and environmental biology.
Systematics and phylogenetic tree
Systematics is a science that studies the diversity of living organisms of the past and present, as well as their relationships over time, which are depicted as phylogenetic trees. The evolutionary tree is divided into two parts: the first is known as the branching of the order, which shows the relationships of organisms within the group, the second is called the length of the branch, which determines the period of evolution through which the organisms passed.
Value
Systematics plays a central role in biology, providing a means to characterize the organisms under study. Thanks to the classification reflecting evolutionary relationships, it becomes possible to predict and test various hypotheses. Phylogenesis may be useful for predicting life history data from insufficiently well-studied biological groups.
Biological systematics studies the diversification of all living forms of the past and present, as well as the relationship between them. Dendrograms of species and higher taxa are used to study evolutionary traits (e.g., anatomical or molecular characteristics) and show the distribution of organisms (biogeography). Systematics is simply necessary for understanding the evolutionary history of life on planet Earth.