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Bio 2 > Geologic Time Scale > Flashcards

Geologic Time Scale Flashcards

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Biology 101 flashcards
1
Q

the change in the characteristics of a species over several generations; simply put, it is change over time

A

evolution

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2
Q

author of “On the Origin of Species”, developed the theory of natural selection

A

Charles Darwin

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3
Q

refers to the process where over long periods of time, helpful variations can appear in a species, while “unfavorable” ones disappear

A

natural selection

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4
Q

divides up the history of the earth based on life forms that have existed during specific times

A

geological time scale

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5
Q

a unit or division of geological time

A

geochronological units

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6
Q

the longest subdivision; based on the abundance of certain fossils

A

eons

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7
Q

second largest subdivision; marked by the major changes in the fossil record

A

eras

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8
Q

based on the types of life existing at the time

A

periods

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9
Q

shortest subdivision; marked by differences in life forms and can vary from continent to continent

A

epochs

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10
Q

a method used to determine the age of an object based on the known decay rate of radioactive isotopes

A

radiometric dating

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11
Q

determines the order of past events without necessarily determining the age of objects

A

relative dating

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12
Q

also known as radiocarbon dating, a type of radiometric dating that determines the age of an organic material by measuring the radioactivity of its carbon content

A

carbon dating

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13
Q

the time on earth when it is still forming so no fossils or records or life are found in this eon

A

Hadean Eon

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14
Q

starts when the earth started to cool down, cyanobacteria started to thrive

A

Archean Eon (archea = ancient)

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15
Q

around this time, photosynthetic bacteria spewed tons of oxygen into the atmosphere which gave rise to the first complex life forms (Charnia and Dickinsonia)

A

Proterozoic Eon

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16
Q

it means current; the now

A

Phanerozoic Eon

17
Q

The Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic Eon make up the _______ Eon.

A

Precambrian Eon

18
Q

is the oldest era, the early life forms thrived in water

A

Paleozoic Era

19
Q

explosion of life, life starts in water, marine invertebrates (trilobites and brachiopods) were dominant, supercontinent Gondwana forms near the South Pole (present-day Florida)

A

Cambrian

20
Q

1st animals with bones appeared, a very cold time on earth; the first mass extinction happened due to the ice caps in present-day Africa, Gondwana, Baltica, Siberia, and Laurentia were the four main continents

A

Ordovician

21
Q

first land plants and animals appeared, Laurentia collides with Baltica and closes the lapetus Sea, first millipede fossils and sea scorpions were found in this period

A

Silurian

22
Q

age of the fish, pre-Pangea forms, present-day Arctic Canada was at the equator and hardwoods began to grow; amphibians, evergreens, and ferns appear

A

Devonian

23
Q

first seed plants appeared, North America is covered by shallow seas; bryzoa, brachiopods, and blastoids flourished

A

Mississippian

24
Q

modern North America begins to form, ice covers the Southern hemisphere and coal swamps formed along the equator; lizard and winged insects first appeared

A

Pennsylvanian

25
Q

marks the last period of the Paleozoic, Pangea forms, the Appalachian mountain range rises, the deadliest mass extinction called the “Permian-Triassic Extinction” occurred that wiped out 95% of life on Earth

A

Permian

26
Q

dinosaurs dominated this era, ______ means ‘middle life’

A

Mesozoic Era

27
Q

first dinosaurs appeared; first mammals (small rodents) appeared; after the mass extinction, life and fauna needed to re-diversify; rocky mountains formed; first turtle fossils were found from this period; Pangea breaks apart

A

Triassic

28
Q

Pangea was still breaking apart; the “Golden age of dinosaurs”; the first birds appeared; North America continued to shift away from Africa

A

Jurassic

29
Q

T-Rex flourished; first snakes and primates appeared; first flowering plants; deciduous trees; the 5th mass extinction (Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction) caused all the dinosaurs to be extinct

A

Cretaceous

30
Q

the earth’s current geological era, also known as the “age of the mammals”

A

Cenozoic Era

31
Q

first horses appeared and tropical plants dominated the land

A

Paleocene (under tertiary)

32
Q

grasses spread and large mammals thrived

A

Eocene (under tertiary)

33
Q

dogs, cats, and apes appeared

A

Oligocene (under tertiary)

34
Q

horses, mastodons, camels, and tigers roamed free

A

Miocene (under tertiary)

35
Q

hominids developed and the Grand Canyon was formed

A

Pliocene (under tertiary)

36
Q

modern humans developed; the last ice age happened

A

Pleistocene (under quaternary)

37
Q

humans flourish; one that we are currently living in

A

Holocene (under quaternary)

Bio 2 (3 decks)

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