ANIMAL CLASSIFICATION WEBQUEST LINK:
The Five Kingdoms
The five kingdoms currently accepted by most (but not all) scientists are the Monera Kingdom, the Protist Kingdom, the Fungi Kingdom, the Plant Kingdom, and the Animal Kingdom.
The Monera Kingdom consists of unicellular lifeforms. Unicellular means that they only have one cell. Moneran cells are far simpler and more basic than the cells of other lifeforms. These cells have no nucleus, and are also missing many of the organelles, or parts, commonly found in other cells. For this reason, monerans are thought to be very distantly related to other lifeforms.
The Protista Kingdom consists of unicellular lifeforms (lifeforms with only one cell) who have a nucleus. The primary difference between protists and monera is that protists are more complex, having a nucleus.
The Fungi Kingdom is made up of a variety of different fungi. For many years, it was believed that fungi were plants. Today we know that fungi are different from plants in some very important ways.
The Plantae Kingdom is made up of all the plants that you see each day. Most plants are multi-cellular, meaning that they consist of many cells. Different types of plants include trees, grass, flowers, and some types of algae.
The five kingdoms currently accepted by most (but not all) scientists are the Monera Kingdom, the Protist Kingdom, the Fungi Kingdom, the Plant Kingdom, and the Animal Kingdom.
The Monera Kingdom consists of unicellular lifeforms. Unicellular means that they only have one cell. Moneran cells are far simpler and more basic than the cells of other lifeforms. These cells have no nucleus, and are also missing many of the organelles, or parts, commonly found in other cells. For this reason, monerans are thought to be very distantly related to other lifeforms.
The Protista Kingdom consists of unicellular lifeforms (lifeforms with only one cell) who have a nucleus. The primary difference between protists and monera is that protists are more complex, having a nucleus.
The Fungi Kingdom is made up of a variety of different fungi. For many years, it was believed that fungi were plants. Today we know that fungi are different from plants in some very important ways.
The Plantae Kingdom is made up of all the plants that you see each day. Most plants are multi-cellular, meaning that they consist of many cells. Different types of plants include trees, grass, flowers, and some types of algae.
Ecosystems are the interactions between plants, animals, microorganisms and their environment and how they work together; ecosystems need to stay in balance to survive. Resilience is the ability for parts of an ecosystem to adapt to survive change. Invading species are organisms (plant, animal etc.) that move to a new area where there are no natural controls so they can take over and out-compete native species; they change the ecosystem and native species may not be resilient enough to survive the change. Biodiversity refers to the diversity of all life on Earth. The health of our planet depends on each species serving its function
Ecosystems: Ecosystems are the interactions between plants, animals, microorganisms and their environment and how they work together; ecosystems need to stay in balance to survive.
Resiliency: The capacity to respond to or withstand change. The greater the genetic variability within a population, the greater the potential resiliency.
Invading Species: Invading species are organisms (plant, animal etc.) that move to a new area where there are no natural controls so they can take over and out-compete native species; they change the ecosystem and native species may not be resilient enough to survive the change.
Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the diversity of all life on Earth and the connections between all living things.
Resiliency: The capacity to respond to or withstand change. The greater the genetic variability within a population, the greater the potential resiliency.
Invading Species: Invading species are organisms (plant, animal etc.) that move to a new area where there are no natural controls so they can take over and out-compete native species; they change the ecosystem and native species may not be resilient enough to survive the change.
Biodiversity: Biodiversity refers to the diversity of all life on Earth and the connections between all living things.
Why is Biodiversity So Important?
Biodiversity is a source of strength in the ecosystem. A forest that contains many different types of trees will be stronger and more stable than a forest that has only one or two species. In a wheat field, there is only one species. If a disease attacks part of the wheat field, it can quickly spread to the whole crop.
Genetic diversity within species makes it easier for species to adapt to new or changed environments. By having a large gene pool, a species is more able to adapt. For example, the average moose in northern Canada is larger than those in southern Canada. This helps them to endure a longer, colder winter because larger bodies are easier to keep warm.
Do we need all species, or could we do without certain insects? Although another form of life may seem annoying to us, it is still very important. For example, bees and many other insects pollinate our orchard trees and crops as well as wild plants. Other insects, such as mosquitoes, are the main food for many species of songbirds and bats.
Different ecosystems, such as forests and wetlands for example, perform different functions. Each is important. If an exotic species thrives, a pre-existing animal or plant will dwindle in numbers and possibly lose its place in the ecosystem. Interrelationships among the remaining species will never be quite the same. The balance of nature will be upset, and the biodiversity that holds together the web of life will be weakened.
We have often seen examples of humans “fixing” ecosystems without knowing or understanding the function an ecosystem serves. Marshes (which filter the pollution out of water, provide habitat for many species and recharge groundwater) are drained or filled to make the land “better”. Not really! And introducing non-native species into an environment can be damaging
to native ecosystems. A good illustration of this kind of imbalance is the rusty crayfish, a heavily clawed, aggressive crustacean imported from the southeastern United States as fishing bait. This cantankerous crawdad displaces native crayfish, forcing them out of their habitats and leaving them vulnerable to predators. It also feeds greedily on native aquatic plants, reducing their abundance and diversity and depriving invertebrates and young fish of shelter. European frog-bit, purple loosestrife, red-eared sliders, and zebra mussels are a few more examples of invasive species that muscle out native species and throw ecosystems off balance.
Source: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/community/classroom/c6-bio-e.html
Biodiversity is a source of strength in the ecosystem. A forest that contains many different types of trees will be stronger and more stable than a forest that has only one or two species. In a wheat field, there is only one species. If a disease attacks part of the wheat field, it can quickly spread to the whole crop.
Genetic diversity within species makes it easier for species to adapt to new or changed environments. By having a large gene pool, a species is more able to adapt. For example, the average moose in northern Canada is larger than those in southern Canada. This helps them to endure a longer, colder winter because larger bodies are easier to keep warm.
Do we need all species, or could we do without certain insects? Although another form of life may seem annoying to us, it is still very important. For example, bees and many other insects pollinate our orchard trees and crops as well as wild plants. Other insects, such as mosquitoes, are the main food for many species of songbirds and bats.
Different ecosystems, such as forests and wetlands for example, perform different functions. Each is important. If an exotic species thrives, a pre-existing animal or plant will dwindle in numbers and possibly lose its place in the ecosystem. Interrelationships among the remaining species will never be quite the same. The balance of nature will be upset, and the biodiversity that holds together the web of life will be weakened.
We have often seen examples of humans “fixing” ecosystems without knowing or understanding the function an ecosystem serves. Marshes (which filter the pollution out of water, provide habitat for many species and recharge groundwater) are drained or filled to make the land “better”. Not really! And introducing non-native species into an environment can be damaging
to native ecosystems. A good illustration of this kind of imbalance is the rusty crayfish, a heavily clawed, aggressive crustacean imported from the southeastern United States as fishing bait. This cantankerous crawdad displaces native crayfish, forcing them out of their habitats and leaving them vulnerable to predators. It also feeds greedily on native aquatic plants, reducing their abundance and diversity and depriving invertebrates and young fish of shelter. European frog-bit, purple loosestrife, red-eared sliders, and zebra mussels are a few more examples of invasive species that muscle out native species and throw ecosystems off balance.
Source: http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/community/classroom/c6-bio-e.html
All About Invasive Species
There are many non-native species living in the habitats around us. Evolving in a foreign environment, non-native species have adaptations suited to meet the resources of a community and habitat different from the one in which they are introduced. These species become invasive when they take away habitat and food from native species to an extent where they do harm to the environment and economy. The adaptations of invasive species are particularly competitive as they may:
• Have few natural predators, disease or parasites to keep their numbers in balance,
• Reproduce quickly and often,
• Adapt to many conditions,
• Be able to migrate (and therefore spread) easily,
• Be generalists; they can eat a variety of foods and live in a variety of habitats; and
Alien species are found nearly everywhere in Canada. They can belong to any of the categories of organisms in the world, including plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and micro-organisms. They include species native to one part of Canada that move to another region of the country, as well as those that come from outside the country. These aliens are any species that has spread beyond its natural range into new locations as a result of human activity.
Many of Canada’s alien species are beneficial, but a great number are not. Sometimes the conditions are right for alien species to become invasive—they move into new habitats and take over, their populations sometimes expanding beyond control. The harm they cause to the environment, the economy, or human health can be costly and sometimes irreversible.
Seafaring European explorers and settlers were the first to introduce new species to Canada. They brought cattle, goats, and other domestic animals, along with familiar crops like wheat, when they came by ship to explore and settle the New World. Without meaning to, they also introduced unwanted organisms—pests, like the Norway rat, and viruses, like deadly influenza and smallpox.
Today, alien species are still being imported intentionally into Canada from around the world for use in many areas, from agriculture and horticulture to the pet trade to medical and scientific research. A variety of legislation regulates the importation of alien species into Canada and their movement once they are in the country. Unfortunately, even when programs are in place to monitor and contain imported species, the effects the species can have on the environment if they accidentally escape from their intended habitat is not always considered.
Accidental arrivals are rarely discovered until they have become invasive and spread some distance from their point of entry. For example, many unwanted aliens arrive in ballast water, the seawater or freshwater used to stabilize large ships during travel; aquatic species are taken up along with ballast water at one port and released at the destination port. About half of the alien shellfish species in Canada, including the highly invasive zebra mussel, probably arrived in North America in this way. Shipping-crate wood and packing materials may also contain unwanted species, such as insects. As well, unwanted aliens may travel with intentionally imported ones. For example, plants, seeds, and bulbs that are imported for use in landscaping may harbour foreign insects and fungi or may be contaminated with the seeds of other plants. Domestic animals and aquaculture species may carry foreign diseases or parasites.
Alien introductions into Canada are becoming more frequent and difficult to track as global trade and travel expand. In recent years, more species have been arriving from Asia, some with telltale names like the Asian long-horned beetle, Japanese bamboo, and Eurasian water milfoil. More frequent travel between regions within Canada is also speeding up the spread of alien species to remote areas, isolated water bodies, and islands.
There are many non-native species living in the habitats around us. Evolving in a foreign environment, non-native species have adaptations suited to meet the resources of a community and habitat different from the one in which they are introduced. These species become invasive when they take away habitat and food from native species to an extent where they do harm to the environment and economy. The adaptations of invasive species are particularly competitive as they may:
• Have few natural predators, disease or parasites to keep their numbers in balance,
• Reproduce quickly and often,
• Adapt to many conditions,
• Be able to migrate (and therefore spread) easily,
• Be generalists; they can eat a variety of foods and live in a variety of habitats; and
- Often defend themselves well or are particularly aggressive predators.
Alien species are found nearly everywhere in Canada. They can belong to any of the categories of organisms in the world, including plants, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, invertebrates, and micro-organisms. They include species native to one part of Canada that move to another region of the country, as well as those that come from outside the country. These aliens are any species that has spread beyond its natural range into new locations as a result of human activity.
Many of Canada’s alien species are beneficial, but a great number are not. Sometimes the conditions are right for alien species to become invasive—they move into new habitats and take over, their populations sometimes expanding beyond control. The harm they cause to the environment, the economy, or human health can be costly and sometimes irreversible.
Seafaring European explorers and settlers were the first to introduce new species to Canada. They brought cattle, goats, and other domestic animals, along with familiar crops like wheat, when they came by ship to explore and settle the New World. Without meaning to, they also introduced unwanted organisms—pests, like the Norway rat, and viruses, like deadly influenza and smallpox.
Today, alien species are still being imported intentionally into Canada from around the world for use in many areas, from agriculture and horticulture to the pet trade to medical and scientific research. A variety of legislation regulates the importation of alien species into Canada and their movement once they are in the country. Unfortunately, even when programs are in place to monitor and contain imported species, the effects the species can have on the environment if they accidentally escape from their intended habitat is not always considered.
Accidental arrivals are rarely discovered until they have become invasive and spread some distance from their point of entry. For example, many unwanted aliens arrive in ballast water, the seawater or freshwater used to stabilize large ships during travel; aquatic species are taken up along with ballast water at one port and released at the destination port. About half of the alien shellfish species in Canada, including the highly invasive zebra mussel, probably arrived in North America in this way. Shipping-crate wood and packing materials may also contain unwanted species, such as insects. As well, unwanted aliens may travel with intentionally imported ones. For example, plants, seeds, and bulbs that are imported for use in landscaping may harbour foreign insects and fungi or may be contaminated with the seeds of other plants. Domestic animals and aquaculture species may carry foreign diseases or parasites.
Alien introductions into Canada are becoming more frequent and difficult to track as global trade and travel expand. In recent years, more species have been arriving from Asia, some with telltale names like the Asian long-horned beetle, Japanese bamboo, and Eurasian water milfoil. More frequent travel between regions within Canada is also speeding up the spread of alien species to remote areas, isolated water bodies, and islands.
WEB LINKS
The website links below will help you jump-start your research on invading species!
Purple Loosestrife
www.invadingspecies.com
www.great-lakes.net
www.lakeheadca.com
www.purpleloosestrife.org
Rusty Crayfish
www.invadingspecies.com
Asian Long-horned Beetle
www.invadingspecies.com
www.inspection.gc.ca
Round Goby
www.invadingspecies.com
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/
Zebra Mussel
www.invadingspecies.com
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/
http://www.great-lakes.net/
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Sea Lamprey
www.invadingspecies.com
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
The website links below will help you jump-start your research on invading species!
Purple Loosestrife
www.invadingspecies.com
www.great-lakes.net
www.lakeheadca.com
www.purpleloosestrife.org
Rusty Crayfish
www.invadingspecies.com
Asian Long-horned Beetle
www.invadingspecies.com
www.inspection.gc.ca
Round Goby
www.invadingspecies.com
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/
Zebra Mussel
www.invadingspecies.com
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/
http://www.great-lakes.net/
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
Sea Lamprey
www.invadingspecies.com
http://www.protectyourwaters.net/
http://www.dfo-mpo.gc.ca
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