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Living Earth Quizzes > Short Answer > Flashcards

Short Answer Flashcards

1
Q

When did the Big Bang occur?

A

13.75 Ga

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2
Q

Immediately after the Big Bang, what was the most common element?

A

Hydrogen

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3
Q

What are the major beneficial effects of the Van Allen belts?

A

They prevent ionising radiation reaching the Earth’s surface

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4
Q

What happens to iron during the process of planetary differentiation?

A

It sinks and creates a layered core

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5
Q

What is the name given to the first 600 million years of Earth history?

A

Hadean

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6
Q

Which of the following is the most likely location for the development of the first living organisms on Earth?

A

Hydrothermal vents

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7
Q

The Late Heavy Meteorite Bombardment ceased at the end of the Hadean and life took <200My to evolve, therefore in what eon did life emerge?

A

Archean

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8
Q

What are features of prokaryotic cells?

A

A lack of internal organelles

Reproduction is by binary fission

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9
Q

What are stramatolites?

A

Layers of aerobically photosynthesising cyanobacteria and sediment

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10
Q

What important information can be gleaned from the organic compounds called sterols preserved in the Proterozoic Eon?

A

Eukaryotes had evolved

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11
Q

In multicellular organisms, what must cells be able to do?

A

Specialise
Communicate
Adhere

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12
Q

What geological phenomena mark the end of Snowball Earth events?

A

BIFs
Tillites containing dropstones
Thick carbonate sediments

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13
Q

What are essential components of Banded Iron Formations?

A

Iron oxides

Amorphous silica

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14
Q

Cyanobacteria produce oxygen as a by-product of their respiration: why are/were they not affected by this toxic substance?

A

They evolved enzyme systems which protected their metabolic processes.

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15
Q

In what way did cyanobacteria profoundly and irreversibly change the planet?

A

By producing free oxygen as a metabolic by-product

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16
Q

Which significant developments in the Earth System are demonstrated by the first appearance of ‘red’ terrestrial sandstones in the geological record?

A

An ozone layer had begun to develop

Global oceans had become sufficiently aerobic for oxygen to diffuse into the atmosphere

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17
Q

Cyanobacterial oxygen began to oxidise the world’s oceans around when?

A

3.0 Ga

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18
Q

Oxygen only began to diffuse into the atmosphere when?

A

2.2 Ga

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19
Q

The start of the Hadean Eon

A

4.6 Ga

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20
Q

The end of the Hadean

A

4.0 Ga

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21
Q

The end of the Archaean Eon

A

2.5 Ga

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22
Q

The end of the Proterozoic Eon

A

541 Ma

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23
Q

What was the concentration of atmospheric carbon dioxide - [CO2]atm - in the atmosphere needed to generate melting of the Snowball Earth events?

A

350 x current [CO2]atm

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24
Q

What was the causative mechanism that resulted in the development of a Snowball Earth?

A

The break-up of the supercontinent Rodinia, causing HCO3- flux increase to the oceans resulting in more biological production and a net sink of CO2 into the sedimentary rock record.

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25
Q

Why did banded iron formations (BIFs) re-appear after the glacial ice of Snowball Earth melted?

A

The oceans became oxygenated again due to re-established oceanic circulation, Fe2+ was oxidized to the less soluble Fe3+, which precipitated out.

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26
Q

Although perhaps not the most current thinking, if the Slushball Earth scenario revailed during these pan-global glacial events, Which of the following were likely refuges for life during such events?

A

Beneath thin sea ice
Hot springs and hydrothermal vents
Brine channels in sea ice
Equatorial seas

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27
Q

From around 600 Ma, what feature appears in the sedimentary record that is evidence for the existence of multicellular animals?

A

Bioturbation

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28
Q

To which eon of geological time do the Ediacaran and Cryogenian periods belong?

A

Proterozoic

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29
Q

Why did stromatolites decline in abundance towards the end of the Proterozoic?

A

They were outcompeted by the evolution of grazing multicellular animals.

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30
Q

Why may organisms have first developed mineralised skeletons?

A

As a means of dealing with toxic metabolic by-product
For protection from predators
To provide sites for muscle attachment

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31
Q

Which was the most diverse and common group of animals in the early Cambrian?

A

The arthopods

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32
Q

Which organisms dominated early Cambrian reef systems?

A

Archaeocyathids

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33
Q

Fish mode of life

A

nektonic

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34
Q

Jellyfish mode of life

A

planktonic

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35
Q

Corals mode of life

A

sessile epibenthic

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36
Q

Trilobites mode of life

A

mobile epibenthic

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37
Q

Burrowing echinoids mode of life

A

infaunal benthic

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38
Q

Sessile epifaunal organisms live

A

on the sediment surface, and are fixed in place

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39
Q

Infaunal organisms live

A

in soft sediments, or are borers

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40
Q

Why is there an abundance of trilobite fossils?

A

Many of the fossils are not of dead animals but only the moulted exoskeletons

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41
Q

To which phylum do the crinoids belong?

A

Phylum Echinodermata

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42
Q

The plane of symmetry of lampshells bisects

A

both valves

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43
Q

List some facts about graptolites

A

Decreasing number of branches (stipes)
Planktonic filter feeders
Two-branched colonies = Ordovician period

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44
Q

What is the general structural trend for the geological terranes of the British Isles?

A

North Easterly to South Westerly (NE-SW)

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45
Q

What is the name of the ocean that once separated Gondwana from Laurentia?

A

Lapetus

46
Q

Which of the following terranes represent ancient ocean crust?

A

South Mayo
Ballantrae
Lizard

47
Q

Periods of geological time from the oldest (1) to the youngest (5)

Silurian
Cambrian
Carboniferous 
Devonian
Ordovician
A
  1. Cambrian
  2. Ordovician
  3. Silurian
  4. Devonian
  5. Carboniferous
48
Q

What palaeontological evidence is an indication that once geographically distant continental land masses have almost converged as ocean crust is being subducted?

A

The same benthic organisms are found on both sides of the closing ocean

49
Q

Just how old is the oldest ocean crust that can still be found on the modern ocean floor?

A

Jurassic

50
Q

Plants which live in water possess_____for photosynthesis, and_____easily diffuses into cells whilst____ dissolved in water is easily absorbed by osmosis; water is also full of____and the plants have no need for____as the water is buoyant.

A 
chlorophyll
water
carbon dioxide
nutrients
lignin
51
Q

What could be considered as disadvantages for plants which were adapted to life in water in the Palaeozoic?

A

Carbon dioxide is less easily extracted from water than from air
Light levels are lower in water than in air
There was less ecospace available

52
Q

Xylem tissue in plants serves several functions, which of the following statements are correct?

A

Xylem developed from simple ‘conducting strands’ in early land plants
Only vascular plants possess xylem tissue

53
Q

Which of the following are characteristic of the early land plant Cooksonia?

A

Cooksonia had a simple vascular bundle

Cooksonia had simple branching axes

54
Q

Five mass extinction.

A 
End-Ordovician
Latest Devonian 
Late Permian
End- Triassic 
Cretaceous/Tertiary
55
Q

What statement would be correct when referring to the oceans of the early Palaeozoic?

A

Ocean circulation was much slower than today, driven by brines produced in equatorial regions

56
Q

What is the evidence for a glaciation event in the late Ordovician?

A

Striated rock pavements
The erosion of deep valleys into the palaeo-topography
The global occurrence of the brachiopod Hirnantia

57
Q

Which of the following factors were involved in the second stage of the end-Ordovician extinction?

A

Sea -level rise
Bottom water warming
Lower bottom water oxygen levels
More stratified ocean water masses

58
Q

Give some statements about lungfish

A

Their lungs were/are modifications of the swim bladder

They were/are lobe finned

59
Q

In which of the following environments did vertebrates first develop limbs?

A

Shallow non-marine waters

60
Q

What was a true tetrapod?

A

Hynerpeton

61
Q

What adaptations needed to be developed by a vertebrate in order to adapt to life on land?

A

Development of ear bones from elements of the jaw

Development of connections between the fin bones and pelvic/shoulder girdles

62
Q

Arborescent plants were found in which time periods?

A

Late Devonian

Mid Carboniferous

63
Q

The genera that formed part of the arborescent lycopod Lepidodendron was…

A

Lepidostrobus

Stigmaria

64
Q

What features characterise delta-top swamps?

A

They develop only thin organic (peat) layers
They are short-lived environments due to delta channel-switching
They are fed by groundwater
They support a variety of plants, including strongly lignified ones

65
Q

How did seed-ferns manage to grow to arborescent heights?

A

Their ‘trunks’ were made of interwoven roots and leaf bases

66
Q

Carboniferous [O2]atm reached which level?

A

35%

67
Q

Which phenomena allowed Carboniferous arthropods to grow to gigantic sizes?

A

High [O2]atm

68
Q

Which of the following would provide the best conventional hydrocarbon reservoir rock?

A

A porous, permeable sandstone

69
Q

What was the primary purpose of the sail on the back of a synapsid pelycosaur?

A

It was used to help regulate its body temperature

70
Q

Which statement best describes a cynodont?

A

A mammal-like animal which had canine teeth, and is believed to be warm blooded.

71
Q

Place the geological periods of the Palaeozoic eon in order from oldest (1) to youngest (6)

Permian
Silurian
Cambrian
Carboniferous 
Devonian 
Ordovician
A 
Cambrian
Ordovician
Silurian
Devonian
Carboniferous
Permian
72
Q

Match the following geological rock formations with the correct descriptors.

Rotliegend Sandstone

Coal Measures

Zechstein salts

A

Reservoir rock

Source rock

Reservoir seal/cap rock

73
Q

Which of the following statements correctly describe the earliest Triassic period?

A

Reef systems of the early Triassic were very different from those of the Permian
There were no coals deposited in the earliest Triassic
Biogenic siliceous sediments are absent from the earliest Triassic

74
Q

Which one of the following statements is the only one that unequivocally indicates that photic zone anoxia became established in the latest Triassic?

A

Organic geochemical biomarkers indicate photosynthetic green sulphur bacteria were present

75
Q

Which animal groups were completely wiped out in the late Permian?

A 
Gorgonopsians
Glossopteris
Trilobites
Eurypterids
Rugose corals
Blastoids
76
Q

Which is the only one of the geochemical parameters which can be used to indicate that eruptions from the Siberian Traps Large Igneous Province were not the only factor responsible for global warming during the end-Permian extinction event?

A

δ13C isotopic signature

77
Q

Which geological phenomena could provide evidence for rifting and continental break-up (as occurred when the supercontinent of Pangaea broke up)?

A

Normal faulting at triple junctions
Volcanism at triple junctions
Evaporite deposits
Aulacogens

78
Q

Pangaea began to break apart in the

but rifting in the North Sea did not commence until the

A

Triassic period

Jurassic period

79
Q

Normal faults resulting from the creation of a three-armed ___ formed the ____ Graben

A

Triple junction

Triple junction

80
Q

Which groups first appeared in the Triassic period?

A

Calcareous nannoplankton
Scleractinian corals
Frogs
Dinosaurs

81
Q

Which groups first appeared in the Jurassic period?

A

Ammonites and Belemnites

Burrowing echinoids and burrowing bivalves

82
Q

Which of the following plants were particularly characteristic of the Jurassic?

A

Ginkgos
Araucarians (Monkey Puzzle trees)
Cycads

83
Q

Which of the following are classified as dinosaurs?

A

Theropods
Saurischians
Ceratopsians
Hadrosaurs

84
Q

Which evidence could be used to identify the nests of dinosaurs which produced precocial offsping?

A

Nests containing large eggshell fragments
Remains of offspring with well-developed joints
Remains of offspring with unworn teeth

85
Q

Which characteristics would be true of an endothermic animal or population of such animals?

A

There is a very low predator:prey ratio

86
Q

Bipedal ground-dwelling dinosaurs only possessed feathers of [a] shape, and these could not have been used for [b] as feathers have to be [c] in order to generate lift.

A

Symmetrical
Flight
Asymmetrical

87
Q

Match the marine reptile with the right morphological characteristic

Pliosaur

Plesiosaur

Elasmosaur

A

Short neck
Long neck
Very long enck

88
Q

Place the following marine animals in order of size, from the ‘smallest’ (1) to largest (4).

Large mosasaur
Camerocerus
Nothosaur
Leedsichthys

A

Nothosaur
Camerocerus
Large mosasaur
Leedsichthys

89
Q

Match the marine reptile with its method of locomotion:

Mosasaur

Early ichthyosaurs

Plesiosaurs

Late Cretaceous ichthyosaurs

A

carangiform
angulliform
“underwater flying”
thunniform

90
Q

Match the reef-building organism with the appropriate geological time division.

Rudists
Hexacorals	
Archaeocyathid	
Stromatolites	
Tabulate corals
Stromatoporoids
A 
Late Cretaceous
Jurassic
Cambrian
Precambrian
Silurian
Carboniferous
91
Q

Which geological time period did reefs reach their maximum diversity and geographical extent

A

Devonian

92
Q

What may contribute to enhancing the potential economic worth of fossil reef complexes?

A

Primary porosity
Dissolution of aragonitic skeletons of some reef-builders
Later diagenetic alteration to dolomite

93
Q

What statements correctly describes a characteristic of the angiosperms (flowering plants)?

A

They produce reticulate pollen

They reproduce by a process of double fertilsation

94
Q

What is the only direct indicator that can be used to demonstrate that global temperatures were very high during the mid and late Cretaceous?

A

The migration of tropical plants to high latitudes

95
Q

Which Large Igneous Provinces (LIPSs) were active during the mid-late Cretaceous and contributed towards driving CO2atm levels higher, ultimately resulting in greenhouse conditions?

A

Kerguelan Plateau
Ontong-Java Plateau
Caribbean Plateau

96
Q

Which phenomena were ultimately a result of increased mid-ocean ridge activity in the mid-late Cretaceous?

A

A rise in global sea levels
A relative drop in the Mg2+ content of ocean waters
A sea-water chemistry that led to massive increases in calcareous planktonic productivity

97
Q

Which phenomena is the only one to be found in the Cretaceous/Tertiary boundary clay layer?

A

Melt-produced tektites

98
Q

What is the origin of the shocked quartz found in the K/T boundary impact layer?

A

The pressure of the bolide impact imposed shock lamellae on quartz found at ‘Ground Zero’

99
Q

As the___tectonic plate slammed into the southern margin of Eurasia around 33-34 million years ago, orogenesis caused the development of the___mountain range, and at the same time continental fragmentation resulted in the southern___plate becoming isolated at high southern latitudes, permitting the creation of cold bottom waters and changing the nature of global ocean circulation patterns.

A

Indian
Himilayan
Antarctica

100
Q

Which geological phenomena would have played a role in the falling global temperatures at the Eocence-Oligocene boundary?

A

Isolation of the Antarctic continent on the southern pole
Establishment of the Circum-Antarctic Polar Current
The opening of the Norwegian-Greenland Sea
The opening of the Drake Passage
The rise of the Himalayan mountain range

101
Q

What statements about mammals are correct?

A

Deer are even-toed ungulates

Ruminants have huge stomachs like fermentation vats

102
Q

List some hominids

A

Gorilla
Orangutan
Human

103
Q

Using the lists below, match the primate group with the pertinent morphological characteristic.

Lower primates (strepsirrhines)
Higher primates (haplorrhines)
New World monkeys (playrrhines)
Old World monkeys (catarrhines)

A

In the skull, the eye sockets are not entirely closed by bone
Dry noses and upper lips separated from the gums
Nostrils point sideways, and they lack opposable thumbs
Nostrils points downwards and they also possess opposable thumbs

104
Q

Place the following in order of their brain sizes, from the smallest capacity (1) to the largest (5).

Homo erectus 
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
Australopithecus africanus
Homosapiens sapiens 
Australopithecus (homo?) habilis
A 
Australopithecus africanus
Australopithecus (Homo?) habilis
Homo erectus
Homo sapiens sapiens
Homo sapiens neanderthalensis
105
Q

List what are/were hominins?

A 
Autralopithecus
Denisovians
Ardipithecus		
Homo erectus
Neanderthals
106
Q

Sea level rise due to climatically induced thermal expansion of the oceans since 1900

A

Magnitude: tens of centimetres

107
Q

Sea level rise that would ensure following the melting of the Greenland ice cap

A

Magnitude: around six to ten metres

108
Q

Sea level rise that would result from the melting of the Antarctic ice cap

A

Magnitude: tens of metres

109
Q

How big would an impactor (a bolide) need to be to produce global-level extinctions?

A

2-10 km in diameter

110
Q

The Sun is a perfectly normal example of a G-type main-sequence star (or a “yellow dwarf”), but in the future it will evolve as the processes operating inside the star change over time. Which of the following stages will happen soonest (1) and which furthest in the future (4)

A
  1. 10% more luminous phase
  2. Red giant phase
  3. White dwarf phase
  4. Black dwarf phase

Living Earth Quizzes (2 decks)

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