Biological Classification R.H Whittaker (1969) proposed a five kingdom classification.

The kingdom defined by him were named Monera , Protista , Fungi , Plantae , Animalia. The main criteria used by him were: cell structure, thallus organization, mode of nutrition, reproduction, phytogenetic relationships. KINGDOM MONERA It mainly consists of BACTERIA. Most abundant micro-organism. Present in soil, extreme habitats such as hot springs, desserts, snow and deep oceans. They live as parasites also. Bacteria are grouped under four categories on the basis of their shapes: The Spherical COCCUS (pl:cocci) The Rod shaped BACILLUS (pl:Bacilli) The Comma shaped VIBRIUM (pl:Vibrio) The Spiral shaped SPIRILLUM (pl:spirilla) Bacteia show the most extensive metabolic diversity . Some are autotrophic . They may be photosynthetic autotrophic or chemosynthetic autotrophic. The vast majority of bacteria are heterotrophs. ARCHAEBACTERIA(Primitive Bacteria) They are found in some of the most harsh habitats such as extreme salty areas (halophilles) , hot springs (thermoacidophilles) and marshy areas (methanogens) . They differ from other bacteria is in having a different cell wall structure . This feature is responsible for their survival in harsh conditions . They are also found in the gut of rumminant animals such as cows and buffaloes . (methangens) EUBACTERIA (True Bacteria) E.g.: cynobacteria , nostoc , Anabaena. They have a rigid cell wall and if motile , a flagellum. The cynobacteria (referred to as blue green algae) have chlorophyll similar to green plants are photosynthetic autotrophs. They are unicellular, colonial or filamentous, fresh water marine or terrestrial algae. Some of these organisms can fix atmospheric nitrogen in specialized cells called heterocyst. E.g.: Nostoc, Anabaena. Chemosynthetic autotrophic bacteria oxidize various inorganic substances such as nitrates, nitrites and ammonia and use the released energy for their ATP production. They play a great role in recycling nutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, iron and sulphur. Heterotrophic Bacteria are most abundant in nature. The majority are important decomposers. Some are helpful and significant for humans for converting milk to curd, formation of antibiotics, fixing nitrogen in the roots of legume plant. Some are also harmful that causes several diseases in plants and animals such as cholera, typhoid, citrus canker Bacteria mainly reproduce by the method of binary fission. In unfavorable conditions it produces spores. They also reproduce by adopting a primitive type of DNA transfer from one bacterium to the other

MYCOPLASMA: lack a cell wall, smallest living known cell and can survive without oxygen. They are harmful to plants as well as animals. KINGDOM PROTISTA All single celled eukaryotes are placed under this kingdom , they are mainly aquatic , contains a well defined nucleus and other membrane boundorganelles , some have flagella or cilia , reproduce by the process involving cell fusion and zygote formation . CHRYSOPHYTES This group includes diatoms and golden algae (desmids). They are found in fresh water as well as in marine environments. They are microscopic and float passively in water currents (planktons). Most of them are photosynthetic. They have two cell wall like a soap box consisting of silica and are indestructible DIATOMACEOUS EARTH Diatoms leave behind a large amount of their cell wall deposits, this accumulation over billions of year is referred as diatomaceous earth. Being gritty this soil is used for polishing, filtration of oils and syrups. They are the chief producers in the oceans. DINOFLAGELLATES They are mostly marine and are photosynthetic. They appear yellow, green, brown, blue, or red depending on the main pigments present in their cells. Cell wall is made up of cellulose on the outer surface. They have two flagella one longitudinally and the other transversely Very often red dinoflagellates (e.g.: Gonyaulax) lead to red tides when they undergo a rapid multiplication. The toxins released are harmful and if produced in large numbers it may even kill the marine life such as fishes. EUGLENOIDS Majority of the are fresh water organisms found in stagnant water. They have a protein rich layer called pellicle which makes the body flexible instead of a cell wall. They are photosynthetic in the presence of sunlight, when deprived of sunlight they behave like heterotrophy by predating on other smaller organisms. They have a pigment similar to the higher plants (E.g.: EUGLENA) SLIME MOULDS Slime moulds are saprophytic protists. The body moves decaying twigs and leaves engulfing organic material. Under favourable conditions, they form an aggregation called plasmodium which may grow and spread over several feet. During unfavourable conditions, the plasmodium differentiates and forms fruiting bodies bearing spores at their tips (spores posses true cell walls, resistant, can survive in adverse conditions, dispersed by air currents). PROTOZOANS All protozoans are heterotrophs and live as predators or parasites. There are four major groups of protozoans.

1. AMOEBOID PROTOZOANS: These organisms live in fresh water, sea water or moist soil. They move and capture their prey with the help of pseudopodia as in Amoeba. Marine forms have silica shells on their surface. Some of them such as entamoeba are parasites. 2. FLAGELLATED