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Paleotology 200 > 9: Stratigraphy and Geologic > Flashcards

9: Stratigraphy and Geologic Flashcards

1
Q

Principle of Superposition

A

tendency for rock layers to be chronologically stacked

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2
Q

Stratigraphy

A

the science of using the arrangement and composition of rock layers to interpret geological history

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3
Q

formation

A

a large uninterrupted sequence of rock that is made of multiple layers that all share similar properties (ex. mineral composition) and that all formed under similar conditions

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4
Q

radiometric dating

A

to age rocks in absolute terms
use mass spectrometer
measure isotop: decay product ratio

can’t use sedimentary rocks, use igneous rocks instead and volcanic ash deposits

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5
Q

Isotopes

A

a variant of a chemical element that has an unusual number of neutrons
some are unstable and will undergo radioactive decay, whereby energy is released and a new atom with a different composition of particles results (decay products)
a large collection of isotopes will radioactively decay at a mathematically predictable rate

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6
Q

The Geologic time scale

A

a standardized series of chronological divisions that parses the Earth’s history into discrete named units
Largest units to smallest are: Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs

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7
Q

Hadean eon

A

4.6-4 BYA
earth surface partially molten and widespread volcanic activity
4.5 bya earth collided with smaller planetoid, which led to the formation of the moon
by the end of the eon, the earth had cooled, large oceans covered the surface
Complex organic molecules are said to have formed in these early oceans

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8
Q

Archean Eon

A

4-2.5 BYA
oldest known fossils (single-celled organisms)
Cyanobacteria > led to oxygen production which became concentrated in earth’s atmosphere
Stromatolites (records of early life)

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9
Q

Proterozoic Eon

A
  1. 5 BYA - 541 MYA
  2. 7 BYA = first multicellular organism (no bones)

Ediacaran Period: 630-542 MYA large forms of life with hard parts > first animal life

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10
Q

Phanerozoic Eon

A

541-0 MYA
3 eras (Paleozoic, Mesozoic, cenozoic)
animal life evolved rapidly, including dinosaurs

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11
Q

Paleozoic Era

A

541-252 MYA
primitive invertebrates living in oceans > forests covering land and land teamed with reptiles, amphibians, and insects

Periods: Cambrian, ordovician, silurian, devonian, carboniferous, permian

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12
Q

Cambrian period

A

541-485 MYA
dramatic diversification of aquatic life
Cambrian explosion
sponges, molluscs, worms, anthropods (trilobites)

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13
Q

Ordovician Period

A

485-443 MYA
global sea levels were high
life in oceans diversify
fish increasingly become dominant large aquatic animals

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14
Q

Silurian period

A

443-419 MYA
evolution of jaws in fish
primitive plant life began to flourish

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15
Q

Devonian period

A 
419-359 MYA
first forests appeared on land 
hige jawed fish 
first true sharks appeared 
lobe finned fishapods ventured onto land > tetrapods
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16
Q

Carboniferous period

A 
359-299 MYA
Amphibians widespread in the abundant swamps
insects evolve flight
reptiles (the first amniotes) evolved 
coal mined today is from these swamps
17
Q

Permian Periods

A

299-252 MYA
continents collided = Pangea
reptiles evolved into 3 lineages: anapsids, synapsids, diapsids.

dry desert environment
single greatest mass extinction in planet’s history took place at the end of this period, one of the major losses was the trilobites

18
Q

Mesozoic Era

A

252-66 MYA
Age of dinosaurs
dinosaurs evolved and became dominant form of large terrestrial life
many marine replies evolve (ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs)
first true turtles, crocodilians, lizards, snakes,, mammals, and birds evolved at this time
Angiosperms

periods: triassic, jurassic, cretaceous

19
Q

Cenozoic era

A

66-0 MYA
Age of Mammals
the extinction of dinosaurs allowed mammals to evolve and thrive
Grasses become abundant

periods: paleogene, neogene, quartenary gene

20
Q

Paleogene period

A

66-23 MYA
global temperatures cool
mammals diversified into a variety of new forms (primates, bats, whales)
birds diversified

21
Q

Neogene period

A

23-2.6 MYA
global temperatures cool
first Hominids evolved in africa

22
Q

Quarternary period

A

2.6-0 MYA
several ice age events
first anatomically modern humans evolved
human civilization spread

23
Q

Triassic Period

A

252-201 MYA
life recovered from Permian mass extinction
first mammals and dinosaurs and pterosaurs evolved near the end of this period
Pangea begins to fall apart
Ornithichians, theropods, sauropodomorphs: small and bipedal
Ichtyosaurs evolved
Pleiosaurs evolved

24
Q

Ichtyosaurs

A 
group of lizards that look like fish 
triassic period 
found evolutionary success by returning to water 
piscivores 
no gills
25
Q

Pleiosaurs

A

Triassic
reptiles that returned to aquatic lifestyle
large chests, paddle shaped limbs
short tails

26
Q

Pterosaurs

A

Triassic
close relatives of dinosaurs, branched off from the reptilian family tree at around the same time as the dinosaurs did
first vertebrates to fly
membranous wings supported by a single extremely elongated finger

27
Q

Rhamphorhynchoids

A

group where early pterosaurs belong

28
Q

Jurassic period

A

201-145 MYA
dinosaurs diversified
peak sauropod diversity, dominant terrestrial herbivores
small/medium ornithopods
non-coelurosaurian theropods were dominant terrestrial carnivores
stegosaurs restricted to jurassic
first ankylosaurs/ornithppods/ceratopsians appear (but are not diverse or abundant yet)
First birds evolved
Rhamphorhynchoids pterosaurs gave rise to new pterosaur group > pterodactyloids

29
Q

pterodactyloids

A 
group of pterosaurs 
jurassic 
differ from Rhamphorhynchoids in morphology of their tails (which were short) and their carpels (which were elongated, leading to greater wing length). 
had large head crests 
largest animals to ever fly
30
Q

Early Cretaceous period

A

146-100 MYA
First flowing plants evolved
dinosaurs continue to diversify
new theropods evolve
coelurosaurian theropods become more diverse
iguanodonts become larger and more abundant
Mosasaurs

31
Q

Mosasours

A

Cretaceous period
third major reptilian group began patrolling waters
relatives of modern monitor lizards and snakes
tail fins
limbs modified into paddles
elongate bodies and tails
preyed on fish and other marine reptiles

32
Q

Late cretaceous period

A

100-65 MYA
apex of non-avian dinosaur diversity
coelurosaurian theropods abundant/diverse in northern hemisphere (tyrannosaurs, ornithomimids…)
ankylosaurs have diverged into two groups: tail-club ankylosaurids and the clueless nodosaurids

ceratopsians and hadrosaurs: dominant large herbivores in large hemisphere

only single sauropod lineage remains, dominant herbivores in southern hemisphere

pachycephalosaurs only known here

cretaceous mass extinction

Paleotology 200 (4 decks)

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