Fossil Record Flashcards
(17 cards)
What is a fossil?
Preserved remains or traces of any organism from the past that is made out of rock
Includes body fossils and trace fossils
What are the two main types of fossils?
- Body fossils
- Trace fossils
Body fossils are the actual remains of the organism, while trace fossils are evidence of the organism’s activity.
How are fossils formed?
- A mold creates a hollow area in rock
- Sediment covers the organism and hardens
This process preserves the shape of the organism.
What does the fossil record tell us?
- When organisms lived
- How organisms have changed
- Environmental conditions at that time
- How Earth’s climate has changed
The fossil record is the collection of all discovered fossils and the information gained from them.
True or False: The fossil record is only about the organisms that are currently alive.
False
The fossil record includes all organisms that have existed throughout Earth’s history.
Fill in the blank: Fossil evidence supports the theory of _______.
[exclusion]
The context of exclusion refers to how fossils help us understand evolutionary processes.
What is the significance of every fossil discovered?
It contributes to our understanding of evolutionary history and environmental changes
Each fossil provides insights into the past ecosystems and organisms.
Fossil
Preserves remains (body fossil) or traces of any organism (traces fossil) from the past that is made out of rock
How are fossil made??
when a dead organism, usually a plant or animal with hard parts like bones or shells, is rapidly buried by sediment like sand or mud
What does fossil evidence provide details about?
How organisms of the past evolved into the forms we see today
Fossil evidence is crucial for understanding evolutionary history.
Define homologous structures.
Structures in different species that are similar because of common ancestry
Examples include the forelimbs of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
What is the Law of Superposition?
The principle that the newest rock layers are on top of the older ones
This law is fundamental in geology for determining the relative ages of rock layers.
What do the oldest rocks contain?
Only very simple organisms
This indicates that life was less complex in the early geological history.
How does the Law of Superposition help in geology?
It helps determine the age of rock layers
It allows geologists to understand the chronological sequence of geological events.
Fill in the blank: The oldest rock layers contain _______.
very simple organisms
True or False: Homologous structures indicate that species have different ancestry.
False
Homologous structures suggest common ancestry among species.
What type of organisms are found in younger rock layers?
More complex organisms
This reflects the evolutionary progression over time.
