Use Whittaker's method to classify bacteria, protozoa,fungi, algae, prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbes.
Answers
"Robert H. Whittaker has divided the study of living organisms into five kingdoms.
These kingdoms are:
• Kingdom Animalia
• Kingdom Plantae
• Kingdom Fungi- fungi is classified under this kingdom
• Kingdom Protista- eukaryotic microbes, algae and protozoa fall in this kingdom.
• Kingdom Monera- this kingdom studies about the prokaryotic, unicellular organisms. Bacteria and prokaryotic microbes will fall under this classification.
"
Answer:
R.H. Whittaker classified organisms into five major groups depending upon:
- Complexity of cell structure
- Complexity of body of the organism
- Type of reproduction
- Mode of nutrition
- Phylo-genetic relationship.
The five major groups were: Monera, Protista, Fungi, Plantae, and Animalia.
Monera mainly consisted of bacteria (cocci, vibrio, spirilla).
Protista included all single-celled eukaryotes like protozoans, slime moulds etc.
Fungi included unique heterotrophic organisms which are further classified in various classes (such as Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes etc) depending upon mode of spore formation, mycelium, and fruiting bodies.
Plantae consisted of eukaryotic chlorophyll containing organisms. They are further divided into algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperm, and angiosperm.
Kingdom animalia includes all heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms which are multi-cellular and lack cell wall.
Now, the given organisms can be classified as following:
Monera: bacteria, prokaryotic microbe.
Protista: protozoan, eukaryotic microbe.
Fungi: fungi
Plants: algae