THE DIVERSITY OF LIFE

A LOOK AT
THE DIVERSITY
OF LIFE
Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cell
Prokaryotes
a.k.a. Monerans
Prokaryotic
Unicellular
Mostly heterotrophs, but
some are autotrophs (Cyanobacteria)
Divide by binary fission
Complex cell walls
Include Eubacteria and Archaebacteria
Some put Archaebacteria in separate kingdom
because they live in extreme environments and
are chemoautotrophs.



Protists
Eukaryotic
Uni- and multicellular forms
Both heterotrophic (protozoa) and autotrophic
forms (algae)
Most live in water
Dumping ground of
classification
Examples: Paramecia,
Amoeba, Dinoflagellates,
diatoms, red and green
algae
Fungi
Eukaryotic
Generally multicellular
(yeast is unicellular)
Heterotrophic
Cell walls made of chitin
Form thread-like strands called
hyphae
Externally digest food; secrete enzymes and
absorb nutrients
Examples: mushrooms, athlete’s foot, yeast


Plants
Eukaryotic
Autotrophic, use photosynthesis (contain
chlorophyll
Multicellular
Cell walls made of cellulose
Large central vacuole
Examples: mosses, ferns, conifers,
angiosperms

Animals
Eukaryotic
Multicellular
No cell wall
Heterotrophs
Internal digestion
Motile
Mostly sexual reproduction
Examples: sponges,
jellyfish, worms, mollusks,
arthropods, fish, humans
Kingdoms and Domains
Bacteria
Archaea
Eukarya
Bacteria
Archaea
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
Monera
Protista
Plantae
Fungi
Animalia
The three-domain system
The six-kingdom system
The traditional five-kingdomsystem