Final answer:
The two key aspects are the management of organismal diversity and the reflection of evolutionary processes. Classification systems should have a hierarchical structure for ease of use and must accommodate an understanding of phylogenetic relationships to be considered adequate.
Step-by-step explanation:
Aspects of Adequacy in Classification Systems
The two key aspects of the adequacy of classification systems are their ability to manage the variety of organismal life and to reflect the evolutionary processes leading to diversity. First, a classification system must be capable of organizing life’s vast diversity into a categorization that is easy to use and understand. A hallmark of an effective system is its hierarchical structure, which mirrors the granularity of a grocery store’s organization, from departments to individual products. This hierarchy in biology spans from broad taxa like kingdom down to the more specific level of species.
Second, the classification system should enable biologists to understand and study the evolutionary mechanisms behind the observed diversity. This is where the relationship between taxonomy, systematics, and phylogeny is essential. Phylogenetically based classification schemes are often more relatable to the evolutionary relationships between organisms compared to those that are solely for ease of organization or filing.
Furthermore, the pattern of variation among organisms can affect ease of classification. As evidenced through frequency histograms, clear ‘gaps’ in the distribution of a characteristic, such as organism size, may lead to a more accurate reflection of distinct groups. This statistical pattern helps in creating more 'real' classifications that are an accurate representation of natural separations within organisms.