Cladistics and Organism Classification

What is cladistics?

• A method of classifying organisms based on physical appearance only

• A method of classifying organisms based on common ancestry and evolutionary relationships

• A method of classifying organisms by habitat

• A method of classifying organisms by diet

Organisms are grouped into clades, which include (a)   .

• Only living species

• An ancestor and all its descendants

• Only extinct species

• Organisms with similar diets

A (a)   is a visual representation of relationships, showing how different species diverged from common ancestors.

• cladogram
• fossil
• ecosystem
• chromosome

Derived characteristics are traits that are present in an organism but absent in the _________

Which of the following is characterized by cell walls made of chitin and heterotrophic nutrition?

• Plants

• Fungi

• Mammals

• Birds

Plants are characterized by (a)   , true leaves, and reproductive structures like flowers and seeds.

• photosynthesis
• respiration
• digestion
• fermentation

Which group is characterized by fur, mammary glands, and sometimes specialized structures like opposable thumbs?

• Birds

• Mammals

• Protists

• Fungi

Birds evolved from (a)   dinosaurs and are characterized by feathers and a four-chambered heart.

• theropod
• sauropod
• ornithopod
• stegosaur

Protists are often classified based on their (a)   and locomotion.

• cellular structure
• reproductive rate
• habitat
• size

Evidence from cladograms supports the idea that flowering plants are closely related to earlier plant forms due to shared characteristics like (a)   and reproductive structures.

• true leaves
• roots
• flowers
• seeds