History of life on earth Flashcards
Palaeontology
They study of fossils
Fossil
The remains of living organisms preserved in rock
Permineralisation
when bone is replaced by minerals from surrounding sediment
Definition of Trace Impressions
Signs/marks of organisms that were
once living - Footprints and faecal
matter.
Palaeontologist
A person who studies fossils
Scientists work out history of life on earth by relating it to other important
events. What are these events
Increase in O2 levels in earth’s atmosphere.
Climate changes
Geological events like Continental drift.
Fossil evidence
Why is fossil evidence important
Provide evidence of extinct living organisms.
Provide information of history of life on earth.
Gives indications of environmental conditions million years ago.
Definition of Casts
Form from moulds where a
body disintegrates and
minerals make a cast of it.
How is sedimentary rock formed?
Clay and sand particles are carried by wind or water and harden on top of layers overtime.
It then becomes: limestone, sandstone and shale
Definition of Moulds & Impressions
not the real thing but an impression
left behind. Hard parts of organism
trapped in sediment, organic material
decomposes, impression left behind.
Transitional species
It is an intermediate species
A species that shows evidence of 2 geniuses, one that it succeeded and one that it preceded.
