Final answer:
The level of classification that 'Staphylococcus' represents for the organism Staphylococcus aureus is Genus, part of a hierarchical taxonomic system that organizes related species into broader groupings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct option is B:
The correct answer to the question "For the organism Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus represents the _____ level of classification." is B. Genus. The taxonomic classification system, also known as the Linnaean system after its founder Carl Linnaeus, ranks organisms in a hierarchical structure from broad to very specific categories. These categories, in descending order of generality, are: domain, kingdom, phylum, class, order, family, genus, and species.
In the case of Staphylococcus aureus, "Staphylococcus" is the genus level, which groups together species that are closely related to each other. This genus, known for its grape-like clustering appearance under the microscope, contains several species including S. epidermidis and the well-known S. aureus. These bacteria are part of the domain Bacteria and are known for their ability to survive in facultative anaerobic conditions and halophilic environments. Despite its spherical (coccus) shape, Staphylococcus belongs to the class Bacilli.