History Of Life Flashcards
What is the study of fossils called?
Paleontology
What is the study of human history
Archeology
What is the study of human culture
Anthropology
What changing confitions is evolution affected by
Climate change and geological events
Why was the cambrian expoltion important
· Oxygen levels rose so more growth for complex body forms
· Environment became warmer
What are 3 theories of mads extinction
Cooling of atmosphere
Extraterritorial theory
Continental drift
What is fossilisation
The process of replacing hard animal and plant parts with minerals
What are the conditions for best preservation
Organism must be buried immediately
Must have hard parts
Must be buried in sed rock w acidicty and no oxygen
What are the 4 stages of fossilization
- Org dies and is buried
- Layers of sed build up and press down on remains
- Dissolved minerals fills spaces in bone and press down; overtime chemical reactions turn sed into rock and bones
- Uncovered thru erosion or excavation
What are the 3 types of fossils
Imprint fossils (pressed into soil)
Cast/mold fossils (remains of org)
Trace fossils (marks left behind)
What is radiometric fossil dating
Using diff instruments to measure radioactive elements
What is relative fossil dating
Index fosss typical of particular period
What are the missing links
Coelacanth ( fish x amphibian)
Archaepteryx (bird x dino)
Thrinaxodon (reptile x mammal)
Where was the Coelacanth found
East London coast
Where was glossopteris found
Estcourt and mooi river in KZN
