Unit 5 of 8

The Evolutionary History of Biological Diversity

Kingdoms of Life

Survey the diversity of life from bacteria to mammals, understanding evolutionary relationships and adaptations.

8 Chapters

56 Hours

Olympiad 4/5

Key Themes

Prokaryotes and protists
Plant diversity and evolution
Fungi biology and ecology
Animal diversity - invertebrates to vertebrates

Chapter RangeCh. 27 - 34

Olympiad RelevanceHigh

Chapters in This Unit

8 chapters covering kingdoms of life

Bacteria and Archaea

6h4/5intermediate

Prokaryotic cell structure • Bacterial reproduction and genetics

Protists

7h4/5intermediate

Protist diversity and classification • Algae - green, red, brown

Plant Diversity I: How Plants Colonized Land

6h4/5intermediate

Plant evolution from green algae • Terrestrial adaptations

Plant Diversity II: The Evolution of Seed Plants

7h4/5intermediate

Seed plant advantages • Gymnosperm diversity

Fungi

6h4/5intermediate

Fungal structure and nutrition • Major fungal phyla

An Overview of Animal Diversity

5h4/5intermediate

Animal characteristics and origins • Body plan evolution

An Introduction to Invertebrates

9h4/5intermediate

Sponges and cnidarians • Flatworms and roundworms

The Origin and Evolution of Vertebrates

10h4/5intermediate

Vertebrate characteristics • Fishes - jawless, cartilaginous, bony

What You'll Master in Unit 5

Prokaryotes and protists

Plant diversity and evolution

Fungi biology and ecology

Animal diversity - invertebrates to vertebrates

Previous Unit

Unit 4: Mechanisms of Evolution

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Next Unit

Unit 6: Plant Form and Function

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