How many organisms have been identified by biologists?

  • Thread starter Greg Bernhardt
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In summary, the conversation discussed the estimated number of identified organisms by biologists. The estimates ranged from 1.4 million to 10 million, with some sources claiming up to 100 million. However, due to the lack of information, it is difficult to accurately determine the exact number of species, with some studies suggesting that 99% of bacteria have yet to be identified. The conversation also mentioned various sources with different estimates, including the United Nations Environment Programme (1.75 million), E.O. Wilson (1.4 million), and a third study (1.5 million). Ultimately, the agreed upon answer was 1.5 million identified species.
  • #1
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Aprox. how many organisms have been identified by biologists?
 
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  • #2
*removes his answer in the interest of fair play*
 
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  • #3
I found a website saying 1.4 million species have been named. However, since it's not my field, this is nothing but a website claim. And someone else has already answered.
 
  • #4
1.4 million have been name
best estimate is 10 million
The estimate are 2 to 100 million

it is hard to evaluated the number of species due to the lack of information. It is though that 99% of bacteria have not been identify!

http://www.wri.org/wri/biodiv/b02-gbs.html [Broken]
 
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  • #5
2- Flora and fauna
 
  • #6
1.7 million species
 
  • #8
I realize this is a question that could yield a few answers, but Matt has correctly matched the answer I have which is 1.5 Million.

Matt receives 1 point! Next question will be posted tomorrow.
 

1. How many organisms have currently been identified by biologists?

According to current estimates, there are approximately 8.7 million species of organisms that have been identified by biologists.

2. How is the number of identified organisms determined?

The number of identified organisms is determined through various methods such as DNA sequencing, morphological analysis, and classification based on shared characteristics.

3. How many new species are discovered each year?

On average, scientists discover around 18,000 new species each year. However, this number can vary greatly depending on the region and the type of organism being studied.

4. Are there likely to be more undiscovered species than identified ones?

Yes, it is estimated that there are still millions of undiscovered species on Earth, particularly in underexplored areas such as the deep sea and rainforests.

5. How important is it to identify and classify organisms?

Identifying and classifying organisms is crucial for understanding their role in ecosystems, tracking changes in biodiversity, and developing conservation strategies to protect vulnerable species. It also provides valuable information for medical and agricultural research.

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