L I F E. |
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Photo by Erik Beringen
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“Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.” - Albert Einstein, 1879-1955.
LIFE as we know it is divided into three Domains, rather confusingly also known as, Dominions, Empires, Superkingdoms or Realms. The three Domains are the 'Archaea', the 'Bacteria' and the 'Eukaryota' or Eukarya. The Archaea are Prokaryote single-celled organisms that lack organelles as well as a membrane bound cell nucleus. All Archaea also share a particular chemical structure of the cell-membrane. And it is this cell membrane structure that sets them apart from the Bacteria and the Eukaryotes. The Bacteria, like the Archaea, are single-celled Prokaryotes that lack membrane-bound organelles and nuclei. However, the chemical structure of their cell membrane is identical to that of the Eukaryota.
The Eukaryota are single- or multi-cellular organisms that do have membrane bound organelles and a nucleus within each cell. All plants, animals and fungi are Eukaryotes. So are many single-celled organisms such as Protozoans, Red Algae, Paramecia and Bakers' Yeast, to name but a few.
Both the Archaea and the Bacteria play a very important in how nature functions of course, but as they are all single-celled microscopic organisms it is by and large common sense that they are ignored here on The Northern Rivers Project.
This then, leaves us the Eukaryota. A large, diverse Domain divided into five Kingdoms. The Kingdoms are: Animals, Plants, Fungi (and Lichens) and the lesser known Chromista and Protozoa. More on each can be found by clicking on the thumbnails below.
The Eukaryota are single- or multi-cellular organisms that do have membrane bound organelles and a nucleus within each cell. All plants, animals and fungi are Eukaryotes. So are many single-celled organisms such as Protozoans, Red Algae, Paramecia and Bakers' Yeast, to name but a few.
Both the Archaea and the Bacteria play a very important in how nature functions of course, but as they are all single-celled microscopic organisms it is by and large common sense that they are ignored here on The Northern Rivers Project.
This then, leaves us the Eukaryota. A large, diverse Domain divided into five Kingdoms. The Kingdoms are: Animals, Plants, Fungi (and Lichens) and the lesser known Chromista and Protozoa. More on each can be found by clicking on the thumbnails below.
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If you know what family of animals or plants you are looking for, use the SITEMAP.
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The main purpose of The Northern Rivers Project is to provide an extensive photographic record of it's natural diversity by amateur naturalists and other enthusiasts.
However, the emphasis is not just on the record itself but also, to some degree, on the photography. Whereas there is no intent to encourage competition amongst it's members we do strive to keep only the better images we produce on the web-site. This way the site will not just be forever expanding and changing but also forever improving. Images will be limited to about seven for most species but, this is not a hard and fast rule. |
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In the long-term the goal of the Project's LIFE pages is to highlight the diversity of life around us. Our regular photography contributors already have a keen appreciation for the world around them and it is hoped that by providing access to some of our work through this web-site we manage to foster a similar appreciation in other people as well. Additionally, as a relatively small citizen science project, we would also like to help direct people's gaze to larger, national and more encompassing projects such as the 'Atlas of Living Australia' and 'iNaturalistAU'.
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Apart from the personal satisfaction our contributors (casual or otherwise) derive from seeing their work published on this platform, there is also the perception that a public service is provided. The Northern Rivers Project's LIFE pages are as much an educational resource web-site for students as they are a source of images for scholars and researchers. Not least of all, they are a contribution towards the Conservation of Nature by, as much as we can, raising awareness about the sheer abundance of life in our region and proudly showing it off.
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Do note however, that copyright rules do apply.
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You too, can help. Even as a casual observer you are quite welcome to make submissions of photographs and/or texts that you think may make a worthwhile addition to the Project. For more detailed information on how to do just that, click here to go to our 'Contact' page.
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Albert Einstein (see the quote at the top of the page) made this comment to his stepdaughter, Margot Loewenthal, after the death of Albert Einstein's sister, Maria ('Maja') in June, 1951. It was quite likely made to make sense of the unhappy event but if it were taken more literally it does tell us that we must know what is around us to have a chance at understanding it all.
References and Links:
https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/prokaryote-procariote-
18/#:~:text=Prokaryotes%20are%20organisms%20whose%20cells,have%20a%20relatively%20simple%20structure. (Accessed 15-08-2023)
https://www.nature.com/scitable/definition/eukaryote-eucariote-294/ (Accessed 15-08-2023)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8125/#:~:text=Fungi%20are%20eukaryotic%20microorganisms.,a%20combination%20of%20both%20forms. (Accessed 15-08-2023)
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK8325/ (Accessed 15-08-2023)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaea (Accessed 15-08-2023)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Domain_(biology) (Accessed 15-08-2023)
Header photo:
Sandra Clark.
Sandra Clark.