Question

The term species was coined by:
a. Aristotle
b. Engler
c. John Ray
d. Linnaeus

Answer 1

Species are a bunch of living organisms of the ecosystem consisting of similar individuals capable of exchanging genes or interbreeding among themselves within the members of the same species. The members of the same species have similar characteristics and behaviours. Species are a principal natural taxonomic unit, ranking below genus.

Complete answer:
The term species is often defined as the largest group of organisms where any two individuals of the opposite sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction within themselves. Though Linnaeus gave the taxonomic classification. But the term Genus was termed by John Ray, who was an English Naturalist.

Hence, the correct answer is option (C).

Additional information:
John Ray was an English Naturalist born in 1627. He was the first to use the idea of 'species' as a taxonomical sub-division, and also the first to try to classify botanical specimens systematically, incorporating information concerning each and every plant's physiological and medicinal qualities. He is also known as “Father Of English Naturalism”. John Ray was the first person to publish a definition of the word species. That definition was widely accepted and granted by each and every researcher. His definition made it clear that any seed from the same plant was of the same species, even if it had different traits.

All organisms capable of inheriting traits to their younger generations from one another to a common gene pool and also the amount of genetic distinction between populations of that species. Generally, species are divided into more than twenty subdivisions. Assessing the worth of species is difficult as Species are an important part of ecosystems, and the value they provide in terms of services should be a standard part of ecosystem assessments. Species also helps the researcher to experiment and study properly about all the organisms present in the ecosystem.

Note: Species play its own ecological role called a niche. Any given species may have one or more of five important roles – native, nonnative, indicator, keystone, or foundation in a particularly given ecosystem. Greater species diversity always ensures natural sustainability for all life forms.