The Diversity of Living OrganismsR. S. K. Barnes Such is the pressure on teaching time in schools and universities that students are taught less and less of the diversity that is life on this planet. Most students, and indeed most professional biologists that these students become, know far more of cell function than of biodiversity. This text is a profusely illustrated, quick-reference guide to all types of living organisms, from the single-celled prokaryotes and eurkaryotes to the multicellular fungi, plants and animals. All surviving phyla and their component classes are characterised and described, as are their lifestyles, ecology, relationships, and within-group diversity (with orders displayed in list form). Overall, the book's aim is to provide biologists and others with a clear, concise picture of the nature of all groups of organisms with which they may be unfamiliar. |
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algae amoebae amoeboid ancestral animals antennae antheridia Anus aquatic archegonia aschelminths asexual bacteria bear benthic body cavity body form body wall capsule carapace carpels cell wall characteristic chitinous chrysomonads chytrids ciliated CLASS colonial complex contains cuticle Cyanobacteria cycle cytoplasm develop differentiated diploid dorsal elongate Endospora eukaryotes excretory feeding female fertilization Figure filaments free-living freshwater fungi fused gametophyte genera gonads habitats haploid heliobacteria host hyphae introvert kinetids lack larva layer legs limbs longitudinal lophophore male marine membrane mitochondria molluscs morphology motile mouth muscles nucleus occur organs ovules pair parasitic pharynx photosynthetic phyla Phylum plants plastids pollen possess posterior proboscis produce Proteobacteria protoctists reproductive segments septa sexual shell single species are known sperm sporangia spores sporophyte stage stalk stems structure subclass superphylum surface swimming symbiotic symbiotrophs tentacles terminal thallus thoracic tissues trunk tube undulipodia usually ventral whorls worms zooids zoospores zygote