Basic Concepts (Chapter 1) Flashcards
1
Q
Paleontology
A
study of ancient life, with emphasis on actual fossils
2
Q
Paleobiology
A
study of ancient life with emphasis on **behaviors **& life style of organisms
3
Q
Fossils
A
remnants of ancient life
- Hard parts: bone, shell…
- Soft part/ body fossils
- Trace fossils: indications of biologic activities
4
Q
species
A
- unit of bilogical measurement
- to be of the same species, must be able to interbreed & produce a viable young
5
Q
biostratigraphy
A
using fossils to determine order & timing of events in earth history
6
Q
time-stratgraphy
A
study of rocks as units of time to determine order & timing of events in earth history
7
Q
Geological Time Scale
A
divisions of Earth history into blocks of time
eons, eras, periods, epochs…
8
Q
induction
A
to accumulate observations & data
9
Q
deduction
A
use series of observations & infer an explanation behind any patterns seen
10
Q
hypothesis (2 types)
A
- speculation - based on random & often erroneous informaiton
- informed - based on systemic observations & background information
11
Q
comparative anatomy
A
- using the shape of known organisms to recreate another that have similar structures
- ex: bones of tigers to recreate sabertooth’s
12
Q
evolution
A
- process in which one organism gives life to another
- usually form simple to more complex form
13
Q
natural selection
A
when organism best fit for certain environment survive in it
14
Q
adaptation
A
- characteristic of organism that allows it to survive or bear enough young that the characteristic is passed on
- only inherited, not acquired
