Do you ever wonder how many different species exist on our planet? The answer might surprise you! Scientists have been hard at work trying to uncover the true extent of Earth’s biodiversity. Through their research, they have discovered a staggering number of species, but there is still much to learn.
Results
In order to get a better understanding of the number of species on Earth, researchers have compiled taxonomic classifications from various sources. Their findings reveal some interesting patterns. When it comes to higher taxonomic ranks, such as orders and classes, our knowledge is quite extensive. However, lower taxonomic levels, especially in the case of prokaryotes, still hold many mysteries.
For eukaryotes, the rate of discovering new species has slowed down as we move up the taxonomic hierarchy. This means that we have a better grasp of the broader groups, like phyla, but the number of individual species continues to steadily increase. This makes it challenging to estimate the total number of species accurately.
To overcome this challenge, scientists have developed a method that takes into account undiscovered higher taxa. By fitting regression models to the accumulation curves of higher taxa, they can predict the asymptotic number of taxa at each taxonomic level. Using this approach, they have made predictions for 18 taxonomic groups where species numbers are relatively well-known, and the results align with inventory totals.
Applying this method to all eukaryote kingdoms, they estimate that there are approximately 7.77 million animal species, 298,000 plant species, 611,000 fungi species, 36,400 protozoa species, and 27,500 chromists species on Earth. In total, they predict that there are around 8.74 million eukaryotic species.
In the world’s oceans alone, there are predicted to be approximately 2.21 million eukaryote species. Unfortunately, the same approach couldn’t be applied to prokaryotes due to the steady pace of taxonomic description. However, scientists estimate a lower bound of around 10,100 prokaryote species, with about 1,320 of them being marine species.
It is essential to note that prokaryotes have a more flexible species concept and a higher degree of genetic dissimilarity compared to eukaryotes. This, along with horizontal gene transfers, makes it harder to isolate and classify prokaryote species. As a result, the number of described prokaryote species is relatively small.
FAQs
Q: How do scientists estimate the number of species on Earth?
A: Scientists use various methods, including fitting regression models to taxonomic accumulation curves and predicting the asymptotic number of taxa at different taxonomic levels.
Q: Are these estimates of species numbers accurate?
A: While these estimates provide a good approximation, it’s important to remember that there is still much we don’t know about Earth’s biodiversity. New species are continually being discovered, and our understanding is constantly evolving.
Conclusion
The sheer number of species on Earth is mind-boggling. From animals and plants to fungi and protozoa, our planet is teeming with life. While we have made significant progress in understanding the diversity of higher taxonomic ranks, there is still so much more to explore at the lower levels. Continual research and discovery are crucial in unraveling the mysteries of our planet’s incredible biodiversity.
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