Taxonomy

Why Do Scientists Rely on Taxonomy?

Suppose that you are a scientist studying tadpoles, the larval stage of a frog. You need to document where tadpoles live in three states, so you send a student researcher to each state to photograph specimens of tadpoles. Upon their return, you are surprised to hear that only one of the states is home to tadpoles, but when you visit the other two states, you find tadpoles living everywhere. When you show the photos of tadpoles to your research team, one person says, "That's not a tadpole. That's a pollywog." Another person chimes in, "No, that's a pinkwink."

Now you understand where the confusion was stemming from: Each region had a different name for the same animal. This type of scenario was problematic hundreds of years ago, but now it rarely happens because scientists across the globe agree to use the same name for each specific organism. Taxonomy is the science of naming and classifying organisms.

 

The Linnaean Classification System

In the 1750s, a Swedish botanist named Carolus Linnaeus developed a standardized system for naming and classifying organisms. Linnaean taxonomy consists of a hierarchy of seven levels based on physical similarities that reflect relationships over time. In this interactivity, explore some important features of the Linnaean classification system. Click the player button to begin.

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The Naming of Species: Binomial Nomenclature

The scientist Carolus Linnaeus brought order to the naming of species, giving them a scientific name rather than relying on common names that varied by region. Binomial nomenclature is his standard naming system that gives each organism a two-part name based on its genus and species. In this interactivity, take a moment to examine how binomial nomenclature works. Click the player button to begin.

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Taxonomy Review

Now that you have explored Linnaean taxonomy and binomial nomenclature, it is time to review your knowledge and practice what you have learned. In this non-graded activity, read the questions or statements and select the appropriate answers. Click the player button to get started.