natural selection and adaptation Flashcards
what are fossils?
preserved remains of animals, plants and other organisms from the distant past
what are some examples of fossils
bones, teeth, impressions, ect
What is radioactive decay
process when the element breaks down the carbon isotope
What is relative dating
process when the element breaks down the carbon isotope
what is absolute dating
gives the exact age of the rock by looking at the break down of elements inside the rock
absolute dating is similar to
carbon dating and radioactive dating
what is stratigraphy
the study of rock layers
by studying different layers scientist can learn
how things evolved
what are the 6 mass extinctions
- Asteroid or Comet impact
- Volcanism
- Formation of super-continent
- Glacaiation
- Anoxic Oceans and bacteria
- Methane gas
What is the asteroid and comet impact and its result
impact triggers earthquakes, tsunamis, and shockwaves of heat
the result creates natural disasters and impacts the sunlight creating a cooling period.
What is volcanism and its result
eruptions occurred leaving many layers of lave, killing life by blocking sunlight, and creating storms of acid rain. overtime carbon and methane lingered in the air
What is the formation of supercontinet and its result
most species face new stress and die, which affects life through the food web, also affected climate which killed species too
What is glaciation and its result
global cooling was likely the cause of the second largest mass extinction, growing glaciers pulled water from the ocean
What is anoxic oceans and bacteria and its result
lowered the oxygen levels, basically suffocating animals
What is methane gas and its result
spread runaway global warming, ending lots of life, now is used as green house gas
