Youtube video Link: https://youtu.be/7AgJpLvAv6Q Five kingdom classification -R.H. Whittaker in 1969 1. Monera— Kingdom of Prokaryotes 2. Protista— Kingdom of Unicellular Eukaryotes 3. Fungi— Kingdom of Multicellular Decomposers 4. Plantae — Kingdom of Multicellular Producers 5. Animalia — Kingdom of Multicellular Consumers Criteria for classification Complexity of cell structure- prokaryote, eukaryote Complexity of organisms- unicellular, multicellular Mode of nutrition- photo-autotrophy (in plantae), absorptive heterotrophy or saprophytic (in fungi) and ingestive heterotrophy (in animalia). Ecological Lifestyle- Producers(plants), consumers( animals), decomposers(fungi) Phylogenetic relationships- prokaryote to eukaryote, unicellular to multicellular Advantages of Five Kingdom Classification 1. Separation of prokaryotes in a separate kingdom of Monera as prokaryotes differ from all other organisms in their genetic, cellular, reproductive and physi­ological organization. 2. Fungi have never been related to plants. They have their own biochemical, physi­ological and structural organization. Separation of fungi into a separate kingdom was another advantage. Drawbacks of Five Kingdom Classification Viruses have not been included in this system of classification. Archaebacteria differ from other bacteria in structure, composition and physiology. protista has so many diversities that it is difficult to keep them together. For example, protista contain both walled and wall-less organisms, photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic organisms, unicellular and filamentous or mycelial organisms. Unicellular algae are kept in kingdom Protista, whereas algae like multicelluar organisms are ketp in kingdom Plantae. But similar organisms must be put together.

1. -R.H. Whittaker in 1969

2. 1. Monera— Kingdom of Prokaryotes
2. Protista— Kingdom of Unicellular Eukaryotes
3. Fungi— Kingdom of Multicellular Decomposers
4. Plantae — Kingdom of Multicellular Producers
5. Animalia — Kingdom of Multicellular Consumers

3.  Complexity of cell structure- prokaryote, eukaryote
 Complexity of organisms- unicellular, multicellular
 Mode of nutrition- photo-autotrophy (in plantae),
absorptive heterotrophy or saprophytic (in fungi) and
ingestive heterotrophy (in animalia).
 Ecological Lifestyle- Producers(plants), consumers(
animals), decomposers(fungi)
 Phylogenetic relationships- prokaryote to
eukaryote, unicellular to multicellular

5. Characteristi
cs
Monera Protista Fungi Plantae Animalia
Cell type Prokaryote Eukaryote Eukaryote Eukaryote Eukaryote
Cell
organization
Unicellular Unicellular
(mostly)
Multicellula
r
(Yeast-
unicellular)
Multicellular Multicellular
Cell Wall Present
(peptidoglycan)
Present
(some
organisms)
Present
(Chitin)
Present
(Cellulose)
Absent
Mode of
nutrition
Autotroph
(Photosynthesis
and
chemosynthesis)
or
Heterotroph
(Saprophytic and
Parasitic)
Autotroph
(Photosynthesis
) or
Heterotroph
Heterotroph
(Saprophytic
and
Parasitic)
Autotroph
(Photosynthesis)
Heterotroph
Example Eubacteria;
Archaea
Chrysophytes;
Dinoflagellates;
Euglenoids
Slime Moulds;
Protozoans
Yeast;
Moulds;
Mushrooms
Mosses;
Fern;
Flowering plants
Insects;
Birds;
Fish

6.  1. Separation of prokaryotes in a separate
kingdom of Monera as prokaryotes differ from
all other organisms in their genetic, cellular,
reproductive and physiological organization.
 2. Fungi have never been related to plants.
They have their own biochemical, physi-
ological and structural organization. Separation
of fungi into a separate kingdom was another
advantage.

7.  Viruses have not been included in this system of
classification.
 Archaebacteria differ from other bacteria in structure,
composition and physiology.
 protista has so many diversities that it is difficult to keep
them together. For example, protista contain both walled and
wall-less organisms, photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic
organisms, unicellular and filamentous or mycelial
organisms.
 Unicellular algae are kept in kingdom Protista, whereas algae
like multicelluar organisms are ketp in kingdom Plantae. But
similar organisms must be put together.