Why was there a need to classify organisms?
Answers
To organize and manage the vast number of oorganisms.
According to a recebt methodological survey estimates that there are about 8.7 million species on the earth, 85% of which are still undiscovered. So it would be a cumbersome process to study each and every character of individual organism. Any systematic study of a plant or animal can only be made easy if it is identified as one belonging to a group having some well defined specific characters. Unless the organisms are categorised into different groups based on similarities and differences between them, it becomes practically impossible to study them.
The branches of biology that deals with classification of various organisms is called Taxonomy and Systematics. Taxonomy includes identification, nomenclature and classification of organisms. They are grouped or arranged in different taxa in a hierarchical manner.
Thus the advantages of classification can be summarised as :-
It makes the study of living organisms easier.
It helps in the specific identification of any given organism.
The study of a few representatives from each distinct group helps us to know about the characterstic features of organisms of that group.
It indicates the evolutionary relationship between different groups of organisms.