Vocational english training for woodworking

Lesson 6. Tree Species-Introduction

Can Do

CAN read scientific and scientific-popular articles in the field of tree species, nomenclature and classification;

 

CAN use the specific terms in this field;

 

CAN express own opinion and present arguments;

 

CAN write a summary of articles, make presentations.

Warm Ui

1. Have you ever wondered what a species is?

 

2. How are tree species named and what the purpose of names is?

 

3. Given the huge number of tree species, are there any easier or more practical ways of classification?

Leaminq Tasks

Read the text below and write a short summary (no more than 10 lines).

 

Tree species

 

There are many definitions of a species. Each one has its own merits and disadvantages and none is universally accepted. An operational and widely adopted definition is based on reproductive capacity: “Species is a group of individuals of the same kind capable of interbreeding and producing viable and fertile offspring”. In the case of trees, this definition leaves plenty of room for discussion, as it is well known that trees can easily cross genetic barriers and form hybrids. Other definitions of species may focus on morphological similarity, similarity of genetic material, including nuclear and/or mitochondrial DNA or RNA, etc. but these definitions generate more problems than they solve.

 

Species names

 

To distinguish between different types (species) of organisms, people gave them "common or vernacular names". These names can be several sentences long, or can vary between localities, species, languages, etc, or are plainly confusing. For example, the term "Tasmanian oak" refers to an "oak", although it is applied for some species of Eucalyptus totally unrelated to oaks.

 

The binomial system of nomenclature is a system of hierarchical classification, i.e. each taxonomic rank is included within a higher, more general one, with more morphologically similar taxa (singular, taxon). Thus, many similar species comprise a genus, many genera (singular, genus) a family, many families an order, many orders a class, many classes a phylum (or division), and many phyla a kingdom1

 

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