Taphonomy Flashcards
Q: What is taphonomy?
A: Taphonomy is the study of what happens to an organism from the time of its death to its eventual burial and discovery as a fossil. It helps paleontologists understand the transition from a living organism to a fossilized specimen.
Q: How does taphonomy help paleontologists understand dinosaurs?
A: Taphonomy provides insights into the environment where dinosaurs lived, the circumstances surrounding their death, and sometimes even their behavior before death by examining the position and condition of bones within sediments.
Q: Why is Dinosaur Provincial Park an ideal location for fossil discovery?
A: Dinosaur Provincial Park is ideal due to its geological and environmental conditions, including glacial activity that exposed older Cretaceous-period sediments, erosion that continues to reveal fossils, and sparse vegetation that accelerates erosion.
Q: What common misconception about Dinosaur Provincial Park is incorrect?
A: A common misconception is that the rocks are 100,000 years old; however, they are actually between 72 and 78 million years old, dating back to the Cretaceous period.
Q: What are the essential conditions for discovering dinosaur fossils?
A: Essential conditions include exposed rock surfaces, rocks from the correct geological age (Cretaceous period), rocks laid down in terrestrial environments, and locations with prior fossil discoveries.
Q: Why is the current environment of Dinosaur Provincial Park unsuitable for new fossil formation?
A: The park’s dry climate prevents the deposition of sand and mud necessary for covering and preserving remains, making it unlikely for modern animal remains to become fossilized.
Q: What was the climate and terrain of Dinosaur Provincial Park during the time of the dinosaurs?
A: About 70 million years ago, the region was wetter and more humid, resembling the climate of today’s Gulf of Mexico or southern United States, with flat terrain characterized by rivers, creeks, and swampy areas.
Q: How did the historical environment contribute to the fossilization process in Dinosaur Provincial Park?
A: The flat, water-rich environment allowed for rapid burial of dinosaur remains, especially during storm events, which increased the chances of preservation as fossils.
Q: Why are sedimentary rocks ideal for preserving fossils?
A: Sedimentary rocks, such as sandstones, mudstones, and shales, are formed from the breakdown and deposition of other rocks carried by water or wind, which allows organisms to be quickly buried and protected from decay.
Q: What types of rocks are not conducive to fossilization, and why?
A: Igneous rocks (formed from molten magma) and metamorphic rocks (formed under heat and pressure) are not ideal for fossilization because they do not form in environments where organisms are buried and protected from decay.
Q: What role do sedimentary geologists play in fossil discovery?
A: Sedimentary geologists analyze sedimentary layers to understand past environments, helping identify areas within these layers that are more likely to contain specific types of fossils, such as dinosaur skeletons in sandstones.
