06.0106.01Classification ProjectClassification Project

Classifying BirdsClassifying Birds

The 6.01 lesson taught you about different systems used to classify living things:

1. Linnaean taxonomy2. Cladistics

You will practice with the 2 classification systems by classifying some birds:

Blue jay, robin, cardinal, canary, pelican

Please proceed to the next slide!

Research online to fill in the blank (RED) boxes. Some have been done for you.

KingdomKingdom

PhylumPhylum

ClassClass

OrderOrder

FamilyFamily

GenusGenus

SpeciesSpecies

Order Name Here

Corvidae Family Name Family Name Family Name

Pelecaniformes

Family Name

Genus Name Genus Name Genus Name Serinus Genus Name

Species Name

(Pelican)

Species Name

(Canary)

Species Name

(Cardinal)

Turdus Migratorius

(Robin)

Species Name

(Blue Jay)

Taxonomy ChartTaxonomy Chart

Type Phylum Name Here

Animalia

Type Class Name Here

Watch this short video about making a cladogram: http://ccl.northwestern.edu/simevolution/obonu/cladograms/Open-This-File.swf

Create your cladogram below. I’ve listed the birds in boxes and given you some lines. You will need to arrange the boxes and lines how you best feel they should go (you may delete any extra lines you don’t need). Remember, there is NO WRONG WAY to make a cladogram. HOWEVER, you must be able to explain why you’ve grouped them in such a way. For example, you might say, “Well, I put the pelican further away from the other birds because it is the only bird that doesn’t perch.”

Here’s a reminder of how a cladogram can look:

Blue JayRobin

Cardinal

CanaryPelican

CladogramCladogram

#1 Describe the physical traits your birds had in common with one another in your taxonomy chart. Break down your descriptions by taxa (kingdom, phylum, class, order…).Example: All animals in the class Reptilia breathe air, lay shelled eggs, and have skin covered in scales.

#2 Explain the positions of each species in your cladogram. Why did you place each of your animals in those positions?Example: I started with the turtle and placed it furthest away from the other reptiles because it has a shell.

#3 Which was more difficult to make, the taxonomy chart or the cladogram? Explain your answer.

Conclusion QuestionsConclusion Questions