Concept explainers
How many different species have been identified by science? How many are estimated to exist?
To write:
About the estimation of species that have been described by science.
Introduction:
On Earth, a characteristic of life is that it is full of variety. Experts refer that the variation among and within living species is known as biodiversity. These studies not only provide interesting stories and fodder for arguments about the “best species”, but they also help us to understand the evolutionary origins of different groups of organisms and their function in biological systems. Systematists are scientists specializing in the description and categorization of a specific group of organisms.
Explanation of Solution
In central databases, 1.5 million identified species were described. The new estimation of total species on Earth is around 8.7 million i.e., on land 6.5 million species are present and in oceans 2.2 million. 20% of the total is known to science at the moment. Scientists use extrapolation to determine how many species are yet to be discovered. Thegraphs below showed the number of new groups of animals within each taxonomic level (taxa) over time. In the graph, leveling off showed that few new groups are probably left to discover. The dotted lines that showed on each group will level off, based on the historical pattern.
Till date, around 1.5 million species are identified.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 14 Solutions
BELK SCIENCE F/LIFE-MASTRG. BIOL.AC+EBK
Additional Science Textbook Solutions
Microbiology: An Introduction (13th Edition)
Microbiology: An Introduction
Human Biology: Concepts and Current Issues
- What do you think scientist expect to discover more species?arrow_forwardExplain your answer in some depth and avoid just saying "It is A" or It is B. Defend your answer and explain why you choice that answer choice. Question: Domestic dogs would least likely meet the definition of a single species using which concept? Group of answer choices A) Lineage B) Biological C) Morphological D) Domestic dogs are not a single species according to any of the species concept definitions.arrow_forwardWhy All Species Are Unique?arrow_forward
- Closely related species are grouped together into (singular, ). By the way, what is the singular of “species”?arrow_forward12) Instead of 1 uniform definition, biologist use over 20 different definitions of "species". Why? A) Because scientists searching for life on other planets do not want to be restricted to the narrow definition that applies to earth based life forms B) Because historically biologist have argued over the correct definition of this term and therefore have split into seperate "camps" for different definitions C) Because life includes both sexual and asexually reproducing organisms D) Because life is so diverse that no single definition used so far can be uniformly applied in a meaningful way to all organismsarrow_forwardWhat is the three-domain concept of the tree of life?How was the tree of life constructed?arrow_forward
- How are millions of organisms on earth classified by scientists?arrow_forwardWhat are the similarities and difference between genealogical, morphological, and biological species concept?arrow_forwardWhat is a species? What types of observations do researchersanalyze when trying to identify species?arrow_forward
- Use the DNA-DNA hybridization data from species A, B, C, D, and E showing the % difference in DNA between each species to answer the question that follows: D E C Species B A 4 3 3 2 X 4 3 3 B X 2 4 1 C 3 X 3 4 X D 3 1 3 X 4 E 4 4 4 23. Which of the following phylogenetic trees correctly illustrates the relationships between species A, B, C, D, and E? (assume that the letters run in sequence A-B-C-D-E at the ends of the branches) a. b. C. ABCDE ABCDE A B C D E V NY VV ABCDE 30+30+30+30)arrow_forwardWhy haven’t we been able to come up with a single, comprehensive, and agreed-upon species concept?arrow_forwardWhat is an Analogy? A) When an anatomic feature is shared among organisms and their descendants B) When two organisms appear the same C) When convergent evolution produces similar phenotypesarrow_forward
- Human Anatomy & Physiology (11th Edition)BiologyISBN:9780134580999Author:Elaine N. Marieb, Katja N. HoehnPublisher:PEARSONBiology 2eBiologyISBN:9781947172517Author:Matthew Douglas, Jung Choi, Mary Ann ClarkPublisher:OpenStaxAnatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781259398629Author:McKinley, Michael P., O'loughlin, Valerie Dean, Bidle, Theresa StouterPublisher:Mcgraw Hill Education,
- Molecular Biology of the Cell (Sixth Edition)BiologyISBN:9780815344322Author:Bruce Alberts, Alexander D. Johnson, Julian Lewis, David Morgan, Martin Raff, Keith Roberts, Peter WalterPublisher:W. W. Norton & CompanyLaboratory Manual For Human Anatomy & PhysiologyBiologyISBN:9781260159363Author:Martin, Terry R., Prentice-craver, CynthiaPublisher:McGraw-Hill Publishing Co.Inquiry Into Life (16th Edition)BiologyISBN:9781260231700Author:Sylvia S. Mader, Michael WindelspechtPublisher:McGraw Hill Education