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Science: Highlights from the book of life |
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Written by Howie Rumberg, asap
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Wednesday, 11 April 2007 |
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Are you on the list?
That’s the list of all living species.
And yes, homo sapiens is one of the more than a million species that have been booked in the Integrated Taxonomic Information System-Species 2000 Catalog of Life thus far.
More than 3,000 biologists, led by Frank Bisby of the University of Reading in England and Orrell, are working to compile a database of an expected total of 1.75 million species by 2011. That’s every living organism — animals, plants, fungi and microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa and viruses.
The system of naming living things, or taxonomy, was developed by Swedish scientist Karl von Linne — known as Linnaeus — in the 1700s, but it’s only recently that scientists have been able to compile a master list culling from an international roster of organizations.
Sure you can find lions (panthera leo) and tigers (panthera tigris) and bears (ursus arctos), oh my, but most of the 1,009,000 species recorded will likely be alien to you. We perused (a tiny bit of) the list and present you with five we found fascinating.
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UNIONICOLA FORMOSA
Kingdom: Animalia
What is it: A symbiotic water mite that lives in the mantle cavity of freshwater mussels (including the anodonta imbecillis). Scientists still aren’t fully informed on how the mite gets it nutrition, but a 2000 study by researchers at Wake Forest University suggested the mites ingested the mussel’s tissue.
Where you can find it: North America.
Fun fact: A Waterwatch, South Australia, study says there are more than 45,000 species of mites and ticks. Fossils date the critters to nearly 400 million years ago.
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HELIX POMATIA
Kingdom: Animalia.
What is it: Would you eat something named Helix pomatia? Well, if you’ve ever had escargot you have. It’s the photogenic snail with a conical shell. Helix pomatia are hermaphrodites, but during mating snails usually take on one role or the other.
Where you can find it: Originally from Central and Southeast Europe, h. pomatia has spread to other parts of Europe — and Michigan — by humans.
Fun fact: The slime excreted by the snail helps prevent water loss, aids in movement and is a deterrent against predators.
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GINKGO BILOBA
Kingdom: Plantae.
What it is: You’re looking at a fossil — sort of. The ginkgo, or maidenhaire tree is one of the oldest existing tree species with a life span of as long as 1,000 years. The tall trees — they can grow to 120 feet — have fan-shaped leaves and inedible smelly fruit with edible seeds. Ginkgo biloba extract is a popular herbal remedy. It is often recommended for treating dementia, retinal problems, memory boosting, blood circulation and tinnitus.
Where you can find it: The Zhejinang province in eastern China.
Fun fact: According to the University of Maryland Medical Center Web site, the herbal extract is among the top-five most prescribed medicines in France and Germany.
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ZEUXINE STRATEUMATICA
Kingdom: Plantae.
What it is: Want to trick someone into thinking they killed that pretty orchid you gave them within weeks of receiving the gift? The soldier’s orchid is the one for you. Z. strateumatica’s bloom in late December or January and die shortly thereafter. They may return next year, or not. But these fickle plants grow abundantly when they do.
Where you can find it: It is native to Asia, but are extremely adaptable. Can be found in the Southern U.S. from Florida to Texas, and Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Fun fact: The Greek word strateumatica means band, company or army.
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SACCHAROMYCES BAILII
Kingdom: Fungi.
What it is: If you have this yeast growing in your refrigerator, you probably can smell trouble. S. bailii causes spoilage in fruit juices, jams, preserves, ketchup, salad dressing, relishes and pickles. The yeast has a tolerance for high acidity and low water activity. And it’s resistant to common preservatives found in juices and wine — the only way to stop it is to drink up.
Where you can find it: Eventually, most refrigerators.
Fun fact: A byprodcut of s. bailii’s growth is water, which helps further the contamination.
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Howie Rumberg is an asap reporter based in New York. | Only registered users can write comments.
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