SYSTEMATICS

• Biological systematics is the study of the

diversification of living forms, both past
and present, and the relationships among
living things through time. Relationships are
visualized as evolutionary trees
(synonyms: cladograms, phylogenetic trees,
phylogenies).
• Scientific study of kinds and diversity of
organisms and the relationship among
them.
 What is SYSTEMATICS?
• Systematics is the study of the units of biodiversity.
Systematics differs from ecology in that the latter is
concerned with the interactions of individuals (and
therefore species) in a particular time, while the
former is concerned with the diversification of
lineages through time. (the line of descendants of a particular ancestor)
• Systematics is the study and classification of living
things; in other words, grouping of organisms based
on a set of rules (or system).
• Systematics is an attempt to understand the
evolutionary interrelationships of living things, trying
to interpret the way in which life has diversified and
changed over time.
Two Kinds of Systematics
• Systematics can be divided into two closely related and
overlapping levels of classification: taxonomic (known as the
Linnaean System) and phylogenetic.
• Taxonomic classifications-- group living things together based
on shared traits - usually what they look like or what their
bodies do. For example, animals that lay eggs and have
scales we call reptiles, and animals that have live births and
have fur or hair we call mammals. More specifically, all
humans share the same characteristics and so belong to a
group, or taxon, of the genus Homo, and species sapien.
• Phylogenetic classifications--use the taxonomic names, but
further group organisms by how evolutionarily related they
are to one another. By looking at each organism's genes, we
know that gorillas (taxonomic term), say, are more closely
related to humans than they are to cockroaches. It's sort of
like if you were to introduce someone to a group of people,
you might start with their names (taxonomic classification),
and then describe who's a sister, uncle, friend, or total
stranger (phylogeny).
 SYSTEMATICS
Introduction:
A. History of Life on Earth
1. Geological Time Scale
2. Origin of Life
3. Features of the Earliest Organisms
=a method of dating rocks and
minerals using radioactive
isotopes.
 1.The Geological Time Scale
► Recognize the relationship among the units—eon, era,
period, and epoch—into which the geologic time scale is
divided.
► Illustrate the vast diversity of life that has been present on
Earth over time by using the geologic time scale.
►Summarize how scientists study Earth’s past environment
and diverse life-forms by examining different types of fossils
(including molds, casts, petrified fossils, preserved and
carbonized remains of plants and animals, and trace fossils).
► Explain how Earth’s history has been influenced by
Geological events: catastrophes (including the impact of an
asteroid or comet, climatic changes, and volcanic activity) that
have affected the conditions on Earth and the diversity of its
 Today…
• Today we are in the Holocene Epoch of
the Quarternary Period of the Cenozoic
Era of the Phanerozoic Eon.

Which unit is the largest?

Which unit is the smallest?
 FOUR Eras…
• PRE-CAMBRIAN – 88% of earth’s history

• Paleozoic (ancient life)

– 544 million years ago…lasted 300 million yrs

• Mesozoic (middle life)

– 245 million years ago…lasted 180 million yrs

• Cenozoic (recent life)

– 65 million years ago…continues through present day
 Divisions of Geologic Time
• Geological time begins with Precambrian
Time. Precambrian time covers
approximately 88% of Earth’s history.
 Paleozoic Era (Ancient Life)
• The Cambrian period is the 1st period of the
Paleozoic Era. “Age of the Trilobites”
• Explosion of life in the oceans began during this era.
• Most of the continents were covered in warm, shallow
seas.
– Invertebrates were dominate - Trilobites
– Fish emerged during this time
– Fish led to the arrival of amphibians
• The end of the Paleozoic era is called the “Age of Amphibians”
– Early land plants including mosses, ferns and cone-bearing
plants.
– The early coal forming forests were also formed during this
time.
 Paleozoic Era
• Much of the limestone quarried for building and
industrial purposes, as well as the coal deposits
of western Europe and the eastern United
States, were formed during the Paleozoic.

• The Cambrian (beginning) opened with the

breakup of the world-continent Rodinia and
closed with the formation of Pangaea, as the
Earth's continents came together once again.
– This event is thought to have caused the
climate changes that led to mass extinction
event.
• The Appalachian mountains were formed
during this time.
 Paleozoic Era
• At the end of the Paleozoic, the largest mass
extinction in history wiped out approximately
90% of all marine animal species and 70% of
land animals.
– Possible causes of this Mass Extinction Event
• Lowering of sea levels when the continents were
rejoined as Pangaea (convergent boundary)
• Increased volcanic activity (ash and dust)
• Climate changes – cooler climate
 Trilobites

• Lived in Earth’s ancient seas

• Extinct before the dinosaurs
came into existence
• Cambrian Period is know as
the “Age of the Trilobites”
(put in on table)
 Brachiopods

• Marine animals that resemble clams.

Early Fish

Early fish did not have jaws.

Some species of sharks
were in existence at this
time.
Frilled Shark that was found in Japan in January 2007. This shark was
considered a “living fossil”
 Early Land Plants

Mosses

Cone bearing plants

Ferns
 Mesozoic Era – Middle Life
• At the beginning of this era the continents
were joined as Pangaea.
• Pangaea broke up around the middle of
this era.
• Reptiles became the most abundant
animals because of their ability to adapt
to the drier climate of the Mesozoic Era.
– Skin maintains body fluids
– Embryos live in shells
 Mesozoic Era
• Dinosaurs were also very active in this
era.
– First small dinosaurs appeared in the Triassic
Period.
– Larger and more abundant dinosaurs
appeared in the Jurassic Period.
• Small mammals and birds also appeared
during this era.
– The mammals were small, warm-blooded
animals. Hair covering their bodies.
• These characteristics help them survive in
changing environments.
 Mesozoic Era
• The main plant life of this time were
Gymnosperms or plants that produce seeds,
but no flowers.
– Pine Trees

• Flowering plants appeared during the END of

this era.
 Mesozoic Era
• This era ended with a mass extinction event
about 65 million years ago.
– Many groups of animals, including the dinosaurs
disappeared suddenly at this time.

• Many scientists believe that this event was

caused by a comet or asteroid colliding with
the Earth.
Crater sites on Earth
 Mesozoic Era – Mass Extinction
Event
• Asteroid or Comet collides with Earth.

– Huge cloud of smoke and dust fills the air

– Blocks out sunlight
– Plants die
– Animals that eat plants die
– Animals that eat plant-eaters die.

• However, not all forms of life died during this

event. Many animals that you see today are
descendants from the survivors of this extinction
event.
Dinosaurs
Mesozoic Reptiles
Mesozoic Mammals
Mesozoic Plants

Flowering plants evolved

towards the end of the
Mesozoic Era.
 Cenozoic Era – Recent Life
• Began about 65 million years ago and continues
today!!!!!
– Climate was warm and mild.
– Marine animals such as whales and dolphins evolved.

• Mammals began to increase and evolve adaptations

that allowed them to live in many different
environments – land, air and the sea.
– Grasses increased and provided a food source for grazing
animals

• Many mountain ranges formed during the Cenozoic

Era
– Alps in Europe and Himalayas in India; Rocky
Mountains in the USA
 Cenozoic Era
• Growth of these mountains may have helped to
cool down the climate
– Ice Ages occurred late in the Cenozoic Era
(Quaternary Period).

• As the climate changed, the animals had to

adapt to the rise and fall of the oceans caused
by melting glaciers.

• This era is sometimes called the “Age of

Mammals”
 Cenozoic Era
• Marine animal and plant examples:
– Algae, Mollusks, Fish and Mammals

• Land animal examples:

– Bats, Cats, Dogs, Cattle and Humans
– Humans are thought to have appeared around 3.5
million years ago (during the most recent period –
Quarternary).

• Flowering plants (Angiosperms) were now the

most common plant life.
Cenozoic Mammals
Flowering Plants were common
during the Cenozoic Era