Deutsch: Taxonomie / Español: Taxonomía / Português: Taxonomia / Français: Taxonomie / Italiano: Tassonomia

In the environmental context, Taxonomy refers to the science of classifying and naming organisms based on their natural relationships. This systematic approach helps scientists, conservationists, and policymakers understand biodiversity, assess the health of ecosystems, and implement conservation strategies. Taxonomy is crucial for identifying species, understanding their evolutionary relationships, and preserving the natural world.

Description

Taxonomy in the environmental context involves:

• Classification: Organizing organisms into hierarchical categories such as kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
• Nomenclature: Assigning names to organisms in accordance with international rules and conventions.
• Identification: Determining the identity of an organism by comparing its characteristics with those of known species.

Application Areas

• Biodiversity Conservation: Understanding the diversity of life to protect endangered species and habitats.
• Environmental Assessment: Assessing the impact of human activities on ecosystems and species diversity.
• Sustainable Development: Informing policies and practices that balance economic development with the conservation of natural resources.

Well-Known Examples

• The International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants (ICN): Provides guidelines for naming plant species.
• The International Code of Zoological Nomenclature (ICZN): Governs the naming of animals.

Similar Terms or Synonyms

• Biological classification
• Systematics

Weblinks

• psychology-lexicon.com: 'Taxonomy' in the psychology-lexicon.com

Summary

In the environmental context, taxonomy is the scientific discipline concerned with classifying, naming, and identifying organisms based on their natural relationships. It plays a fundamental role in understanding biodiversity, guiding conservation efforts, and informing environmental policy and sustainable development strategies. Taxonomy helps us appreciate the richness of life on Earth and the importance of preserving it for future generations.

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