Which group of organisms presents challenges in estimating species diversity due to conventional taxonomic methods being unsuitable for identification?

Prokaryotes

c) Prokaryotes

Prokaryotes present challenges in estimating species diversity due to conventional taxonomic methods being unsuitable for their identification. Prokaryotes are unicellular organisms that lack a true nucleus and other membrane-bound organelles. They include bacteria and archaea, and they are incredibly diverse and abundant in various environments worldwide.

The challenges in estimating prokaryotic species diversity arise from several factors:

1. Microscopic Size: Prokaryotes are often very small, making their identification and classification challenging under a standard light microscope.
2. Lack of Distinct Morphological Features: Unlike plants and animals, prokaryotes do not have distinct morphological features that can be easily used for identification.
3. Difficulty in Culturing: Many prokaryotic species are not culturable under laboratory conditions, which makes it difficult to study them using traditional methods.
4. Genetic Diversity: Prokaryotes exhibit a vast amount of genetic diversity, and distinguishing between closely related species can be complex.

To address these challenges, researchers have turned to molecular and genomic approaches to identify and classify prokaryotic species. DNA sequencing and other molecular techniques have provided valuable insights into prokaryotic diversity and have led to the discovery of many previously unknown species. However, due to the vastness and complexity of the prokaryotic world, our understanding of their diversity is continually evolving, and there may be many more prokaryotic species yet to be discovered and described.