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PALEO 200 > Stratigraphy and geologic Time > Flashcards

Stratigraphy and geologic Time Flashcards

1
Q

true or false - the oldest rocks are found at the bottom

A

true

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2
Q

the tendency for rock layers to be chronologically stacked is called …

A

principle of superposition

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3
Q

how do people interpret geological history

A

stratigraphy - science of using the arrangement and composition of rock layers

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4
Q

define a formation

A

a large uninterrupted sequence of rock that is made of multiple layers and share similar properties and conditions

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5
Q

what does it tell us when a rock changes from one formation change to another

A

indicates that a large scale changed occurred in the environment where the rocks were being deposited

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6
Q

true or false - we cannot tell the relative age of the rock from the principle of superposition

A

false - we can, but we cannot tell the absolute age

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7
Q

how do we find the absolute age of the rocks

A

radiometric dating

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8
Q

an _____ is an element that has an unusual number of neutrons

A

isotope

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9
Q

true or false - all isotopes are stable

A

false - some are unstable and undergo radioactive decay

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10
Q

when a new rock forms, what happens to the ratio of isotopes and decay products

A

ratio matches that of the environment

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11
Q

when a rock ages, what happens to the ratio of isotopes and decay products

A

the ratio decreases

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12
Q

how can we measure the isotope ratio of a rock

A

mass spectrometer

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13
Q

what does the ratio of isotope to decay products tell us

A

how long ago the rock formed

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14
Q

true or false - sedimentary rocks are never “new”

A

true

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15
Q

true or false - sedimentary rocks can be radiometrically dated

A

false - igneous rocks can be

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16
Q

with sedimentary rocks, how can we tell how old the rock layer/fossil is

A

combining radiometric dating and principle of superposition

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17
Q

true or false - lake deposits are a key took in fossil dating

A

false - volcanic ash deposits are

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18
Q

define the geologic time scale

A

a standardized series of chronological divisions that parses the Earth’s history into discrete named units

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19
Q

the largest units in the time scale are
a) eras
b) periods
c) eons

A

c

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20
Q

describe the Hadean eon

A
  • named after Hades, the greek god of the underworld
  • rest of the universe was over 9 billion years old
  • surface of the earth was partially molten and volcanic activity widespread
  • earth collided with a small planet -> ejection of large mass of debris -> formed the moon
  • possibly created the earliest true life forms
  • rocks on the moon are older than the rocks on earth
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21
Q

which eon did the oldest fossils come from
a) mezezoic
b) hadean
c) archaen

A

c

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22
Q

describe the fossils that can be found in the Archaen era

A
  • fossils are simple single celled organisms
  • cyanobacteria (advanced form) -> photosynthetic, produced lots of oxygen gas -> also formed stromatolites
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23
Q

true or false - stromatolites are the best records of early life

A

true

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24
Q

how are the layers in the cyanobacteria created

A

by the secretion of sticky films that trapped particles of sedimentary

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25
Q

which eon did the first multicellular organisms evolved

A

proterozoic eon

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26
Q

true or false - proterozoic eon has the best fossil record of early life

A

false - it is quite poor

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27
Q

what is the name of the time span between 630 and 540 million years ago, found in the proterozoic eon

A

Ediacaran period

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28
Q

when did the first animal life come about

A

the ediacaran period

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29
Q

which eon is subdivided into three eras

A

the phanerozoic eon

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30
Q

when did dinosaurs evolve

A

phanerozoic eon

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31
Q

describe the paleozoic era

A

at the beginning, animal life was restricted to primitive invertebrates in oceans

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32
Q

What is the geologic name for the Age of Dinosaurs?

A

mesozoic

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33
Q

When was the mesozoic era?

A

252 to 66 million years ago

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34
Q

which oraganism lived during this mesozoic?

A
  • marine reptiles: ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, mososaurs
  • first true turtles
  • crocodilians
  • lizards
  • snakes
  • mammals
  • birds
  • first flowering plants
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35
Q

geologic name for Age of Mammals? when was it?

A

Cenozoic Era - 66 to 0 million years ago

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36
Q

Since which geologic period have mammals been around?

A

triassic

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37
Q

in which era do grasses become abundant?

A

cenozoic

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38
Q

In which geologic period do global temperatures begin to cool? When was this period?

A

paleogene - 66 to 23 million years ago

39
Q

in the paleogene period, what forms did the mammals diversify into?

A

primates, bats, whales

40
Q

In which period did gobal temperatures continue to cool and the first hominids evolved in Africa? When was this?

A

neogene - 23 to 2.6 million years ago

41
Q

In which period did the earth experience several large glaciation events, the first modern human evolved, and human civilization spread? When was this?

A

quaternary - 2.6 to 0 million years ago

42
Q

for how long did the non-avian dinosaurs exist?

A

135 million years

43
Q

TRUE or FALSE: there is less time separating the first humans from the last dinosaurs than there is separating the last dinosaurs from the first dinosaurs (i.e. first humans closer to last dinosaurs)

A

TRUE

44
Q

When was the triassic period?

A

252 to 201 million years ago

45
Q

During which period did pangaea begin to break apart?

A

triassic

46
Q

When did the first mammals and dinosaurs evolve?

A

late triassic

47
Q

TRUE or FALSE: during the triassic, ornithischians, theropods, and sauropodomorphs were all mostly small and quadrupedal.

A

FALSE: small and BIPEDAL

48
Q

what was the first large herbivorous dinosaur? What is its dinosaur classification?

A

plateosaurus (prosauropod)

49
Q

When did the ichthyosaurs first evolve? What does ichthyosaur mean - why is this strange? Were their ancestors marine or terrestrial reptiles?

A
  • triassic
  • “fish lizard”, but neither a fish not a lizard; named this way because they are reptiles that took on a fish-like lifestyle and evolved fishy body form
  • ancestors were terrestrial reptiles
50
Q

To adapt to an aquatic life, ichthyosaurs evolved: (select all that apply)

a) paddle-like front limbs
b) paddle like hind limbs
c) finned tail
d) gills
e) shark-like dorsal fin
f) large chests and torsos
g) short tails
h) conical teeth
i) long snouts
j) piscivorous diet

A

a) paddle-like front limbs
b) paddle like hind limbs
c) finned tail
e) shark-like dorsal fin
h) conical teeth
i) long snouts
j) piscivorous diet

51
Q

Which marine reptile group joined the ichthyosaurs in the late triassic? What is an example of this dinosaur?

A

plesiosaurs - e.g. elasmosaurus

52
Q

To adapt to an aquatic life, plesiosaurs evolved: (select all that apply)

a) paddle-like front limbs
b) paddle like hind limbs
c) finned tail
d) gills
e) shark-like dorsal fin
f) large chests and torsos
g) short tails
h) conical teeth
i) long snouts
j) piscivorous diet

A

a) paddle-like front limbs
b) paddle like hind limbs
f) large chests and torsos
g) short tails

53
Q

What were the first vertebrates to fly? When did they evolve? describe their wings. What early group do they belong to?

A
  • pterosaurs
  • triassic (Same time as dinosaurs)
  • membranous wings supported by a single long finger
  • early group: rhamphorhyncoids
54
Q

Which period marked the peak of sauropod diversity? When was it?

A

jurassic - 201 to 145 million years ago

55
Q

Which period are stegosaurs almost completely restricted to?

A

jurassic

56
Q

when did the first ankylosaurs, ornithopods, and ceratopsians first appear

A

jurassic

57
Q

when did the first birds, including Archaeopteryx, evolve?

A

jurassic

58
Q

What are the most famous records of dinosaurs from teh jurassic?

A
  • morrison formation of western USA
  • solnhofen limestone of Germany
59
Q

what new pterosaur group arose in the jurassic? How are they different from the rhamphorhynchoids? What is an example of a dinosaur from this group?

A
  • pterodatyloids - e.g. pteranodon
  • short tails, carpals in wrists, larger wingspan, large head crests
60
Q

TRUE or FALSE: pterodactyls are the largest animals to ever fly

A

FALSE: pterodactyloids

61
Q

What are some sauropods found at the morrison formation?

A

diplodocus, brachiosaurus, camarasaurus

62
Q

When did the first flowering plants evolve? When was this?

A

early cretaceous - 146 to 100 million years ago

63
Q

Which new theropods evolved in the early cretaceous?

A

spinosaurids, carcharodontosaurids

64
Q

what are the most famous records of dinosaurs from the early cretaceous?

A
  • yixian formation of China
  • wealden supergroup of England
  • cedar mountain formation of Utah
65
Q

What are the 3 major reptilian groups of the Mesozoic? Which one evolved in the early cretaceous?

A
  • ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs
  • mosasaurs evolved in early cretaceous
66
Q

mosasaurs evolved: (select all that apply)

a) paddle-like front limbs
b) paddle like hind limbs
c) finned tail
d) gills
e) shark-like dorsal fin
f) large chests and torsos
g) short tails
h) conical teeth
i) long snouts
j) piscivorous diet
k) long tails
l) long bodies
m) carnivorous diet

A

a) paddle-like front limbs
b) paddle like hind limbs
c) finned tail
j) piscivorous diet
k) long tails
l) long bodies
m) carnivorous diet

67
Q

Describe the Wealden scene.

A

theropod Neovenator attacks a pair of Iguanodon, while the small heterodontosaurid Echinodon flees; the early ankylosaur Polacantus is well protected by its armour

68
Q

Which period was considered the apex of non-avian dinosaur diversity? when was it?

A

late cretaceous - 100 to 65 million years ago

69
Q

What are some of the main coelurosaurian theropods from the late cretaceous?

A
  • tyrannosaurs
  • ornithomimids
  • therizinosaurs
  • oviraptorosaurs
  • dromaesaurids
  • troodontids
70
Q

What are the 2 groups of anklosaurs? When did ankylosaurs diverge into these 2 groups?

A
  • tail-clubbed = akylosaurids
  • clubless = nodosaurids
  • late cretaceous
71
Q

What are the dominant large herbivores in the northern hemisphere during the late cretaceous?

A

ceratopsians and hadrosaurs

72
Q

What are the dominant herbivores in the southern hemisphere during the late cretaceous?

A

titanosaurid sauropods

73
Q

Which other dinosaur group with hard dome shaped heads is from the late cretaceous?

A

pachycephalosaurs

74
Q

what is the significant event that occurred during the Cambrian period

A

the dramatic diversification of aquatic animal life referred to as the Cambrian explosion

75
Q

what are some examples of animals that evolved in the Cambrian period

A

sponges, worms, molluscs and arthropods

76
Q

___ is a close early relative of vertebrates but didnt have a vertebrae

A

Pikaia

77
Q

what is the name and group it belonged to of the top invertebrate in the Cambrian oceans

A

invertebrate Anomalocaris

78
Q

_____ has a bizarre Cambrian characteristic and remains a mystery in terms of its habits and relationships

A

Opabinia

79
Q

true or false - Pikaia had a hard skeleton

A

false

80
Q

when did fish become the dominant large aquatic animals

A

Ordovician period

81
Q

true or false - the sea levels were very low during the Ordovician period

A

false - they were very high

82
Q

in the Silaurian period, there came the evolution of

a) jaws in fish
b) gills in fish
c) large land predators

A

a

83
Q

with the evolution of fish with jaws, came the evolution of ____

A

predatory fish

84
Q

the _____ are a group of early jawless vertebrates

a) Pikaia
b) Osteotracans
b) Opabina

A

b

85
Q

when did Dunkleosteus and Tiktaalik evolve

A

Devonion period

86
Q

what kind of fish are Dunkleosteus and Tiktaalik

A

tetrapods

87
Q

true or false - the Dunkleosteus had huge jaws

A

true

88
Q

describe the Carboniferous Period

A
  • many amphibians
  • first amniotes evolved
  • the rotting plants from this period -> formed coal
89
Q

name the single super continent

A

Pangea

90
Q

when did Pangea form

A

the Permian Period

91
Q

what did each of the lineages of reptiles evolve into

anapsids
diapsids
synapsids

A

anapsids -> turtles
synapsids -> mammals
diapsids -> snakes, crocodiles, dinosaurs

92
Q

true or false - we were diapsids before mammals

A

false - we were synapsids

93
Q

describe the environment of the Permian period

A

dry and desert

94
Q

when did the single greatest mass extinction occur and of what

A

Permian period - loss of trilobites

PALEO 200 (13 decks)

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