The 5 kingdoms of nature

Let's look at the basic categories that group together all forms of life: the kingdoms of nature.

Nature is made up of a great diversity of living beings, including us humans. Within it, we can differentiate up to 5 kingdoms of nature, we can differentiate up to 5 kingdoms of natureThe animal, plant, fungi, protista and monera or prokaryotes.

Each kingdom shares a series of common characteristics. In this article we will see what are the parameters that allow this classification, and what are the defining characteristics of each group. In addition, we mention examples of each kingdom.

The five kingdoms of nature and their characteristics.

In the world of nature, there are 5 distinct kingdoms. The criterion that classified these kingdoms of nature was proposed in 1977 by the microbiologist Carl Woese. Currently, this classification is the most widely agreed upon by many scientists who are experts in the taxonomy of living organisms, and is based on other criteria.It is based on other criteria.

The kingdoms of nature are:

• The animal kingdom
• The plant kingdom (plantae)
• The fungi kingdom
• The protist kingdom
• The monera kingdom

Shared characteristics

The above-mentioned kingdoms of nature share a number of characteristics (which differ in each of the kingdoms), as follows.

Cellular organization

This can be of two types: unicellular (a single cell) or multicellular (millions of cells).). Examples of unicellular organisms are bacteria, some algae and fungi, protozoa... And, examples of pluricellular organisms are: humans, mammals...

Type of cell

The cell of the organism can be, as in the previous case, of two types: eukaryotic or prokaryotic. Eukaryotic cells (for example, those of humans) have their hereditary material (DNA) enclosed within a double membrane.

Eukaryotic cells are much more complex than prokaryotic cells, which, in this case, are much more complex than prokaryotic cells.Eukaryotic cells are much more complex than prokaryotic cells, which, unlike the former, do not have a nucleus and their DNA is located in the cytoplasm.

Type of reproduction

Reproduction can be of three types: sexual, asexual or spore reproduction.

4. Nutrition

Nutrition can also be of two types: heterotrophic or autotrophic.. The first implies that organic matter is transformed into nutrients and energy, and that the animal obtains it from there. The second implies that the organism generates its own food (e.g. plants and some bacteria).

5. Locomotion

Living things can move autonomously (autonomous locomotion) or not move at all (immobile locomotion).

6. Type of respiration

Another characteristic shared by the kingdoms of nature is their type of respiration, which can be aerobic or anaerobic. can be aerobic or anaerobic..

7. Other characteristics

Finally, each of the five kingdoms has its own (unique) and distinct characteristics.

What are the organisms of each kingdom like?

Let's get to know the characteristics (and examples) of each of the kingdoms of nature.

Animal kingdom

What makes up the animal kingdom? Living organisms that have the following characteristics: they are multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, with aerobic respiration, with eukaryotic cells, that reproduce sexually (in most cases) and that move autonomously.

In turn, this kingdom is divided into two groups: vertebrate organisms (with a backbone or vertebral column) and invertebrate organisms (without a backbone or articulated internal skeleton). (without backbone or articulated internal skeleton). The former are subdivided into fish, reptiles, mammals, birds and amphibians; the latter include insects, worms and mollusks.

Some examples of the animal kingdom are: cows, tigers, lions, human beings, bees, elephants, crocodiles, ostriches, penguins... In addition, some animals are microscopic, such as tardigrades.

2. Plant kingdom

The second of the kingdoms of nature, the plant kingdom (also called kingdom plantae), is made up of organisms with the following characteristics: Pluricellular, autotrophic, eukaryotic, non-motile, anaerobic and can reproduce in two ways; sexually or asexually..

The fact that they are autotrophic means that plants generate their own food, thanks to the process of photosynthesis. In fact, they are the only ones to do so, together with certain unicellular algae, belonging to the protist kingdom.

Examples of the plant kingdom are all types of plants (with or without flowers): the magnolia, the tulip tree, the snowmelon, the banana plant, the Swiss pine, the royal fern...

3. Kingdom fungi

The fungi kingdom is the kingdom of fungi. In this case, it consists of organisms with the following characteristics: multicellular, aerobic, immobile, heterotrophic, with eukaryotic cells and that reproduce in three ways: by spores, sexually or asexually..

As a curious fact, this kingdom was included as one of the five kingdoms of nature in 1969, thanks to the classification of the American ecologist Robert H. Whittaker (1920-1980). Specifically, Whittaker established the classification criteria according to cell type (prokaryotic or eukaryotic) and level of cellular organization (unicellular or multicellular). This was achieved by means of the electric microscope.

But Whittaker went further, and suggested including other classification criteria, already mentioned throughout the article: the type of nutrition (autotrophic or heterotrophic) and the type of reproduction (sexual or asexual). Some examples of the fungi kingdom are: the star fungus, the fly swatter, the devil's cigar, the brewer's yeast, the amethyst lacaria...

4. Protista kingdom

The kingdom protista is characterized by grouping organisms that, by their characteristics, cannot be included in any other kingdom, cannot be included in any other kingdom. Thus, in a way, it is a "mixed bag" because it includes both unicellular and multicellular organisms, autotrophs and heterotrophs, with sexual and asexual reproduction, etc.

Within the prokaryotic kingdom we find the protozoa (or protozoa) and algae.. Historically, this constitutes the kingdom of "the first eukaryotic forms of life", and has been considered as such since 1866, when the German naturalist Erndt Haeckel (1834-1919) included it in the classification of the five kingdoms of nature. However, in his initial proposal, Haeckel included all unicellular organisms in the protist kingdom.

Examples of the protista kingdom (which you have probably heard little about) are: amoeba, gregarine, paramecium, volvox, coanozoa, stentor, cercomonas...

5. Monera kingdom

Finally, the last of the kingdoms of nature is the kingdom morena, also called the prokaryotic kingdom. Within this kingdom we find all unicellular and prokaryotic organisms; thus, they areThus, they are microscopic beings. They are the only organisms with cells without a defined nucleus. Their genetic material is the simplest of all kingdoms.

These organisms were first defined by Ernst Haeckel in 1866. Later, the biologist Herbert Copeland (1902-1968) also included bacteria in this group. Some examples of the monera kingdom are: Clamydia bacteria, Escherichia coli bacteria, Lactobacillus casei, Clostridium botulinum, Sorangium cellulosum, Bifidobacteria, Serpulina...

Bibliographical references:

• Campbell N. and Reece J. (2007). Biology. Editorial Panamericana.
• Raven P.H.; Evert R.F. & S.E.Eichhorn. (1991). Biology of Plants, 2 vols. Reverté, S.A. Ed.