Past Life and Past Climate

Question 1

What are three purposes of fossils?

Answer 1

To determine the relative age of rock, To determine the paleoenvironment conditions at the time of deposition, To study the process of evolution

Question 2

What are the eight ways organisms can be classified?

Answer 2

Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Subclass, Order, Family, Genus, Species

Question 3

Define Lagerstätten

Answer 3

Fossiliferous deposits that are rich in palaeontological information

Question 4

What are the three types of conservation trap?

Answer 4

Resin, Stagnation, Obrution

Question 5

What are three reasons Lagerstätten are important to the geological record?

Answer 5

Exceptionally well preserved showing detail including soft parts, Provide a more complete view of the fossil record

Question 6

Define Evolution

Answer 6

The progressive development of new life forms

Question 7

What are the two interpretations of evolutionary patterns?

Answer 7

Gradual Evolution and Punctuated Equilibrium

Question 8

Define Gradual Evolution

Answer 8

Implies slow genetic change as one species replaces another by the process of natural selection

Question 9

Define Punctuated Equilibrium

Answer 9

Implies long periods of stability where the characteristics of animals stay the same for a long time followed by rapid change in the characteristics

Question 10

Define Missing Link

Answer 10

A missing intermediate species from the fossil record

Question 11

Define Sepkoski Curves

Answer 11

Illustrates when we think organisms underwent diversification (radiation) and declines (extinctions)

Question 12

What are the two groups of dinosaur?

Answer 12

Saurischian (reptile hipped) and Ornithischian (bird hipped)

Question 13

Are saurischian dinosaurs herbivores or carnivores?

Answer 13

Both

Question 14

Are ornithischian dinosaurs herbivores or carnivores?

Answer 14

Herbivore only

Question 15

Define Therapod

Answer 15

Two legged carnivore

Question 16

Define Sauropod

Answer 16

Four legged herbivore

Question 17

What are four causes of mass extinctions?

Answer 17

Sea level variation, Glaciation, Volcanicity, Asteroid impact

Question 18

Which oxygen isotope is “heavier”?

Answer 18

18O

Question 19

Define Proxy Indicator

Answer 19

An indirect measurement of temperature

Question 20

What three pollens are an indicator of warmer interglacial periods?

Answer 20

Oak, Elm, Hazel

Question 21

What two pollens are an indicator of colder interglacial periods?

Answer 21

Pine and Birch

Question 22

What are five advantageous characteristics of pollen?

Answer 22

Abundant, Small, Easily preserved, Distinctive shape, Not easily destroyed through erosion

Question 23

What are two disadvantageous characteristics of pollen?

Answer 23

Affected by altitude, Plant height

Question 24

What are four processes adding CO2 to the atmosphere?

Answer 24

Combustion, Respiration, Diffusion, Volcanic activity

Question 25

What are two processes removing CO2 from the atmosphere?

Answer 25

Photosynthesis, Weathering of silicate rocks

Question 26

What are three things ice cores can be used to infer?

Answer 26

Temperature, Chemistry of the atmosphere, Ocean productivity

Question 27

What are three places methane hydrates naturally occur at?

Answer 27

Major river deltas, Frozen methane hydrate in Arctic Ocean, Trapped by permafrost layers that overlay decaying vegetation

Question 28

How can flood basalts can affect climate and potentially cause mass extinctions?

Answer 28

Ash and dust rise to the atmosphere, lowering global temperatures by 4-5 degrees C. Animals and plants are not used to this temperature so sudden decrease coud cause extinction

Question 29

When continents are apart...

Answer 29

There is more shallow shelf sea so less competition and more diverse life

Question 30

When continents are together...

Answer 30

There is less shallow shelf sea so more competition and less diverse life