- Taxonomical Aids
Akanksha Soni, Academic Content Writer at Edumarz
Definition:-
- It is defined as the process of collection of samples or preserved organisms that help in extensive research for the identification of different taxonomic hierarchies.
- Taxonomical studies are an essential process as it helps in the identification and classification of many organisms like plants, animals, and other organisms which are useful for agriculture, forestry, industry, and in general to know our bio-resources and their diversity. It is also important for laboratory and field studies. Biologists have established certain procedures and techniques for the storage and preservation of the specimens, as well as information for future studies.
- Techniques of taxonomical aids are as follows:-
- Herbarium:- Herbarium is a reference of a storehouse that collects specimens of dried plants, pressed and preserved on standard sheets. These standardized sheets are known as herbarium sheets. These sheets are arranged in a hierarchical order of classification. These sheets contain all the information like date and place of collection, English, local and botanical name, family, collector’s name, etc.
- Botanical garden:– These botanical gardens have a collection of specific living plants for reference. Plant species in these gardens are grown for identification purposes and each plant is represented for classification study by its botanical or scientific name and its family. The famous botanical gardens are present at Kew (England), Indian Botanical Garden, Howrah (India), and at National Botanical Research Institute, Lucknow (India).
- Museum:– Biological museums are usually established for educational purposes in an institution like schools and colleges for the laboratory of biology. It has a collection of preserved plant and animal specimens for study and reference, the specimens in the museum are preserved in containers or jars with the help of suitable preservative solutions. Plant and animal specimens can also be preserved as dried specimens. Insects are collecting, killing, and pinning to the insect boxes. Birds and large animals such as mammals are usually stuffed and preserved. It also often contains a collection of animal skeletons.
- Keys:– This is another taxonomical aid that is used to identify plants and animals based on contrasting characteristics like similarities and dissimilarities. The keys are based on the opposite characters which are usually placed as generally kept as a couplet. It characterizes a choice made between two opposite alternatives that result in the acceptance of one and rejection of the other. This is known as the lead. The keys are generally analytical and each key requires separate taxonomic categories such as family, genus, and species for identification and classification.
- Zoological parks:– Zoological parks are commonly known as zoos. These are the places where wild animals and birds are kept within the protected boundaries under human care and we get a chance to learn about their food habits and behavior. In a zoo, all animals are kept in a suitable natural habitat and environment. It is open for human visits with suitable protection for both animals and human beings.
