Fossils Flashcards
What did scientists begin to understand in the 1800s?
In the 1800s scientists were only beginning to realize that fossils came from ancient animals.
What is the Theory of Evolution?
Various types of animals and plants have there origin or there beginning from other pre existing typed and that the distinguishable differences is due to genetic modifications
What is the job of a paleontologist?
Paleontologists study fossils and the fossil records
How can scientists trace the history of Earth?
By combining fossil evidence with other information, scientists can trace the history of life on Earth.
What do fossil records tell us?
The fossil record shows that billions of years ago, the only life forms on Earth were simple unicellular organisms.
What has happened to most organisms that have lived on Earth?
Most organisms that have existed during Earth’s long history have become extinct.
According to scientists, what are all extinct organisms related to?
all extinct organisms are related to living ones.
Describe what has happened to horses over time.
The Ancestors of the horse were short, had five padded toes, and lived in forests. The fossils show that this species slowly evolved into modern horses, which are tall, live on grasslands, and have hoofed feet.
Why is fossilization rare?
Fossilization is rare because earth’s natural processes destroy them.
Describe how whales have evolved over time.
Whales used to have long feet and then the feet length became shorter. Then the feet became flippers. Then the hind legs disappeared completely. Then we have a whale.
What happened to animals when landmasses split or when the climate changed?
When land masses split or climate changed, animals evolved in response.
What do fossils tell a story of?
Fossils tell the story of evolution.
What is evolution?
Evolution is a theory that the various types of animals and plants have their origin in other preexisting types and that the distinguishable differences are due to modifications in successive generations.
What helps us understand the changes in Earth’s environment?
The fossil record can tell us about changes in Earth’s environment
How can scientists tell if a region of Earth was once warmer?
When scientists find tropical plant fossils in today’s Arctic, it means these regions were once much warmer.
How can scientists reconstruct ancient ecosystems?
Scientists can reconstruct ancient ecosystems and habitats using fossil records.
How does studying rock layers help scientists?
By studying fossils in a particular rock layer, a scientist can describe what the animal and plant communities in that area were.
How old is Earth?
Earth is about 4.6 billion years old.
What are the oldest fossils found?
The oldest fossils that have been found are those of bacteria that lived about 3.8 billion years ago
When did the diversity of life increase?
The diversity of life began to increase rapidly after the evolution of the first multicellular organisms.
What did scientists create to understand the age of Earth?
Geological time scale
What did scientists use to create this system?
Scientists have used the fossil record
What are the 4 time periods that make up the geological time scale?
The 4 time periods that make up the geological time scale are Eons, eras, periods, epoch, ages
How do scientists mark the boundary between each division?
Each boundary between divisions is marked by the appearance, disappearance, or change in dominance of particular fossil groups
What marked the division between the Devonian and Carboniferous periods?
The division between the Devonian and Carboniferous periods is marked by the appearance of primitive trees and the first land animals with backbones.
How many mass extinctions have occurred in Earth’s history?
5 mass extinctions have occurred in Earth’s history.
What geological epoch are we living in?
Holocene is the geological epoch that we are living in.
What is relative dating?
Relative dating is used to arrange geological events, and the rocks they leave behind, in a sequence
What can scientists infer about a fossil that is found between the Early Jurassic Period and the Late Jurassic Period?
Scientists infer that fossils that are found between the Early Jurassic Period and the Late Jurassic Period are from the Middle Jurassic
How do scientists date the majority of fossils?
Scientists date the majority of fossils by relative dating and also absolute dating.
What conditions are needed for a fossil to form
The conditions have to be dependent on the organism and the environmental conditions in which they die
What is preservation potential?
Preservation potential is an organism’s likelihood of becoming a fossil
What are the 6 factors that can increase an organism’s preservation potential?
6 factors that can increase an organism’s preservation potential are Rapid burial, Gentle burial, Burrowing animals, Little exposure to oxygen, Burial in organic matter, Hard part
What are some factors that destroy fossils?
Some factors that destroy fossils are weathering, erosion, plate tectonics, or other rock cycle processes.
What is fossilization?
Fossilization is the process of turning an organism or trace into a fossil
What is the preservation of original material?
Preservation of original material is when sometimes part or all of the original organism remains, even after thousands or millions of years
Where can you find these kinds of fossils?
These kinds of fossils can be found in amber, tar pits, or ice
What is carbonization?
Carbonization is when carbon left in an organism forms a dark coating on top of the organism.
What type of details can be found in carbonized fossils?
Patterns or colors of skin or leaves are the types of details that can be found in carbonized fossils
When does permineralization occur?
Permineralization occurs when small holes in an organism’s body are filled with minerals.
What does permineralization replace?
Permineralization replaces some of the original body material with minerals.
What is petrification?
Petrification occurs when an organism’s body tissues are replaced by minerals.
What Eon are we in?
Phanerozoic
What🪩ERA🪩are we in?
Cenozoic
What Period are we in?
Quanternary
What age are we in?
Age of mammals
What are all the Ages?
Marine Invertebrates, Fishes, Age of Amphibians, Age of Reptiles, Age of Mammals
