Five Kingdom Classification System — NEET Biology
📚 Practice ConceptIn the five kingdom classification, bacteria are included in Kingdom Monera. Bacteria are cosmopolitan in distribution. These organisms show the most extensive metabolic diversity. Bacteria may be autotrophic or heterotrophic in their mode of nutrition. Kingdom Protista includes all single-celled eukaryotes such as Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates, Euglenoids, Slime moulds and Protozoans. They are chiefly aquatic, most nucleus and other membrane bound organelles. They reproduce both asexually and sexually. Members of Kingdom Fungi show great diversity in structures and habitat. Most fungi are saprophytic in their mode of nutrition. They show asexual and sexual reproduction. Phycomycetes, Ascomycetes, Basidiomycetes and Deuteromycetes are the four classes under this kingdom. The plantae includes all eukaryotic chlorophyll containing organisms. Algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes, gymnosperms and angiosperms are included in this group. The life cycle of plants exhibit alternation of generations – gametophytic and sporophytic generations. The heterotrophic, eukaryotic, multicellular organisms lacking a cell wall are included in the Kingdom Animalia. The mode of
Which of the above statements are correct regarding the modes of nutrition in Whittaker's Five Kingdom Classification? S1: Kingdom Fungi comprises organisms that are exclusively heterotrophic, exhibiting saprophytic or parasitic modes of nutrition. S2: Within Kingdom Monera, bacteria show extensive metabolic diversity, including both photosynthetic autotrophic and chemosynthetic autotrophic forms, as well as heterotrophs. S3: Kingdom Protista includes organisms with diverse nutritional strategies such as photosynthetic autotrophs (e.g., diatoms), heterotrophs that predate (e.g., Euglena in absence of light), and saprophytic forms (e.g., slime moulds). S4: All members of Kingdom Plantae are obligate autotrophs that perform photosynthesis for their nutrition. S5: Kingdom Animalia is characterized by heterotrophic organisms that typically exhibit a holozoic mode of nutrition, ingesting food into an internal cavity.
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Correct answer: C — S1, S2, S3 and S5 only
Let's evaluate each statement: S1: Kingdom Fungi comprises organisms that are exclusively heterotrophic, exhibiting saprophytic or parasitic modes of nutrition. This statement is correct. NCERT states, 'Most fungi are heterotrophic and absorb soluble organic matter from dead substrates and hence are called saprophytes. Those that depend on living plants and animals are called parasites.' Table 2.1 also confirms Fungi as Heterotrophic (Saprophytic/Parasitic). S2: Within Kingdom Monera, bacteria show extensive metabolic diversity, including both photosynthetic autotrophic and chemosynthetic autotrophic forms, as well as heterotrophs. This statement is correct. NCERT mentions, 'Some of the bacteria are autotrophic...They may be photosynthetic autotrophic or chemosynthetic autotrophic. The vast majority of bacteria are heterotrophs'. S3: Kingdom Protista includes organisms with diverse nutritional strategies such as photosynthetic autotrophs (e.g., diatoms), heterotrophs that predate (e.g., Euglena in absence of light), and saprophytic forms (e.g., slime moulds). This statement is correct. NCERT describes Chrysophytes, Dinoflagellates, and Euglenoids as photosynthetic, Euglenoids as heterotrophic when deprived of sunlight, and Slime moulds as saprophytic protists. Protozoans are also heterotrophs. Table 2.1 confirms Protista as Autotrophic and Heterotrophic. S4: All members of Kingdom Plantae are obligate autotrophs that perform photosynthesis for their nutrition. This statement is NOT correct. NCERT explicitly mentions, 'A few members are partially heterotrophic such as the insectivorous plants or parasites. Bladderwort and Venus fly trap are examples of insectivorous plants and Cuscuta is a parasite'. Therefore, not all are obligate autotrophs. S5: Kingdom Animalia is characterized by heterotrophic organisms that typically exhibit a holozoic mode of nutrition, ingesting food into an internal cavity. This statement is correct. NCERT states, 'This kingdom is characterised by heterotrophic eukaryotic organisms...Their mode of nutrition is holozoic – by ingestion of food.' Therefore, the correct statements are S1, S2, S3, and S5. The question assesses the understanding of the diverse modes of nutrition characteristic of each kingdom in the five-kingdom classification system.
What does NCERT say about five kingdom classification bacteria?
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