What is the main focus of BIOL S301F?
Conservation and Biodiversity.
p.32
Geological Time Scale
When did the Permian Extinction occur?
252 million years ago (mya).
How long did the Paleozoic Era last?
About 300 million years (541 to 252 million years ago).
What significant event allowed birds and mammals to rise in prominence during the Cenozoic Era?
The extinction of giant reptiles.
p.2
Fossils and Paleontology
What are fossils?
Remains and traces of evidence of past life.
What is a notable fossil skull collected from the Cenozoic Era?
The skull of the Pliocene 'Hagerman Horse.'
What is referred to as the 'Age of Mammals'?
The Cenozoic Era, which includes humans.
What types of organisms were abundant during the Paleozoic Era?
Fish and marine organisms.
Into how many periods is the Cenozoic Era divided?
Three periods: Paleogene, Neogene, and Quaternary.
p.11
Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
Where are the majority of fossils found?
Embedded in or recently eroded from sedimentary rock.
p.12
Relative and Absolute Dating of Fossils
What are index fossils?
Fossils that identify deposits made at the same time in different parts of the world.
p.28
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
How did sea plants contribute to global cooling during the Ordovician period?
They used all the CO2 from the air.
p.35
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What caused the abrupt halt of life during the Cretaceous period?
An asteroid hit the Earth.
p.2
Fossils and Paleontology
What is paleontology?
The study of the fossil record that provides knowledge about the history of life, ancient climates, and environments.
What does the geological time scale (GTS) chronicle?
Earth's evolutionary history into various periods.
p.35
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What significant event occurred 65 million years ago?
The Cretaceous extinction.
p.33
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What effect did the immense quantities of gases have on the planet during the Permian Extinction?
Warmed the planet and acidified the water.
What are common fossils found from the Precambrian period?
Mats of algae called stromatolites, microorganisms, and simple animals.
What are the four main eons of the geological time scale?
Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic.
What are some common fossils found from the Cenozoic Era?
Cat-like carnivores, early horses, and woolly mammoths.
What significant evidence can be found in caves from the Ice Ages?
Remains of ice age animals that died in them or were transported there after death.
p.11
Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
What does sediment form?
Layers of particles that vary in size and composition.
What significant event occurred during the Permian period?
The first land reptiles appeared.
p.18
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What significant geological event occurred during the Mesozoic Era?
Pangaea began separating into modern continents.
p.37
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What event is suggested to have caused the extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period?
The impact of a large bolide or meteorite.
p.11
Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
What is sedimentation?
The gradual settling of particles of eroded and weathered rock and soil, called silt, carried by moving water.
p.28
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What were the two main events that caused the Ordovician extinction?
An extreme ice age followed by rapid warming.
What other types of animals thrived during the Cretaceous period?
Birds, sharks, rays, turtles, snakes, and crocodiles.
p.26
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What have cooling and warming periods done to the Earth's surface?
Covered it with glacial ice or melted the ice, drastically raising sea levels.
p.27
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What do the horizontal, colored bars represent?
The varying abundance of different life forms affected by mass extinctions.
p.2
Fossils and Paleontology
What are some examples of fossilized traces?
Trails, footprints, or impressions of soft body parts.
p.12
Relative and Absolute Dating of Fossils
Why is the fossil ammonite significant in relative dating?
It has been found over a wide range and for a limited time period, indicating the same age for all strata containing it.
What were the first types of animals to appear during the Triassic era?
The first dinosaurs and the first mammals.
p.25
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What are the consequences of earthquakes and volcanoes on species?
They can lead to geologic isolation or wipe out populations of species.
What is the geologic time scale?
The 'calendar' for events in Earth history.
p.31
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What caused the suffocation of aquatic animals during the Devonian Extinction?
Bacteria degraded the algae and used all the oxygen.
p.29
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What happened twenty million years after the Ordovician extinction?
A rapid warming followed the ice age.
p.29
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
Why did some species struggle after the Ordovician extinction?
They could not adapt to the warmer climate after adapting to low temperatures.
Where can the image source for the lecture be found?
https://www.behance.net/gallery/10901127/History-of-Life.
p.31
Geological Time Scale
When did the Devonian Extinction occur?
358 million years ago (mya).
p.26
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What opportunities can arise from shifts in ecosystems due to catastrophic events?
Opportunities for the evolution of new species.
p.29
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
When did the Ordovician extinction occur?
443 million years ago (mya).
p.33
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
When did the Permian Extinction occur?
252 million years ago (mya).
In what order are the units of the geologic time scale arranged?
In descending order of duration: eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages.
p.26
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
How do long-term climate changes affect biodiversity?
They determine where different types of plants and animals can survive and can cause the extinction of some species.
Where can Precambrian age stromatolite fossils be found?
Glacier National Park, Montana.
What is the sequence of divisions in the Geological Time Scale?
Eon → Era → Period → Epoch.
Which types of creatures dominated the land and air during the Mesozoic Era?
Dinosaurs, crocodiles, and pterosaurs.
p.18
Fossils and Paleontology
What notable fossil was discovered in the Sahara Desert during the Mesozoic Era?
The tail of a sauropod dinosaur.
p.10
Fossils and Paleontology
What type of organism is represented by the term 'fish'?
Aquatic vertebrates that have gills and fins.
When did the Ordovician extinction occur?
443 million years ago (mya).
p.37
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What factors may lead to mass extinctions according to the summary?
Tectonic, oceanic, and climatic fluctuations, particularly due to continental drift.
What types of creatures lived during the Precambrian?
Soft-bodied creatures like worms and jellyfish.
p.2
Fossils and Paleontology
What do fossils mainly consist of?
Hard parts such as shells, bones, or teeth.
What was the condition of the land during the Precambrian?
The land remained barren.
p.2
Fossils and Paleontology
Why do hard parts of organisms fossilize more easily?
Because they are not destroyed or decay easily.
What is the time frame of the Mesozoic Era?
251.9 to 66.0 million years ago.
p.25
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What phenomena does plate tectonics help explain?
Mountain building events, volcanoes, and earthquakes.
p.36
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What were the consequences of the asteroid impact?
It raised debris, triggered volcanic eruptions, and blocked sunlight.
How are the divisions in the geological time scale expressed?
In million years ago (mya).
When did the Pleistocene Ice Ages begin?
About 2.6 million years ago (MYA).
What significant biological development occurred during the Devonian period?
The first appearance of amphibious species.
p.12
Relative and Absolute Dating of Fossils
How do geologists use index fossils in relative dating?
They determine that strata containing the same index fossils are of the same age.
p.11
Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
What is a stratum?
A recognizable layer of sediment in a stratigraphic sequence.
What are common fossils found from the Paleozoic Era?
Trilobites, cephalopods (like squid), insects, and ferns.
p.34
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What process caused the acidification of the oceans during the Triassic era?
The release of CO2 from volcanic eruptions.
p.10
Fossils and Paleontology
What is a fern?
A type of vascular plant that reproduces via spores and does not produce seeds.
p.23
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What is the significance of the San Andreas Fault in geological processes?
It is a site of tectonic activity that can result in various geological formations.
p.30
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What were the main factors contributing to the Devonian extinction?
Depletion of oxygen, cooling, and volcanic activity.
p.26
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What catastrophic events can lead to the destruction of ecosystems?
Collisions with large asteroids.
p.18
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
Which mountain range rose during the Mesozoic Era?
The modern Rocky Mountains.
p.34
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What geological event triggered massive lava eruptions in the Atlantic Ocean during the Triassic era?
The breakup of the supercontinent Pangea.
p.23
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What can tectonic plate boundaries like the San Andreas Fault lead to?
Mountain-building events, volcanoes, or valley/rift creation.
p.29
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What environmental change contributed to the Ordovician extinction?
The quick formation of glaciers that lowered sea levels.
p.31
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
How did plants contribute to the climate during the Devonian Extinction?
They reduced CO2 levels and induced a colder climate.
p.31
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What geological activity was significant during the Devonian Extinction?
There was a lot of volcanic activity in Siberia.
p.25
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What does the theory of plate tectonics explain?
How major landforms are created as a result of Earth’s subterranean movements.
p.14
Absolute Dating of Fossils
How can the absolute date of a fossil be determined?
By comparing the 12C to 14C ratio of the fossil to that of a living organism.
p.32
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What caused the vast amounts of carbon dioxide to be released during the Permian Extinction?
Volcanic activity in Siberia ignited huge coal deposits.
p.32
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
Why is the Permian Extinction considered the deadliest in history?
It resulted in the largest loss of species.
What are the major divisions of the geological time scale based on?
Definite events that marked major changes in earth's physical, chemical, and biological features.
p.10
Fossils and Paleontology
What is a trilobite?
A type of extinct marine arthropod known for its three-lobed body structure.
p.9
Fossils and Paleontology
What natural event led to the unearthing of dinosaur footprints in Texas?
The drying up of a river.
What are the named units of abstract time in the geologic time scale?
Eons, eras, periods, epochs, and ages.
p.27
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What are mass extinctions?
Events in which a significant number of species die out in a relatively short period.
p.11
Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
What is silt?
Particles of eroded and weathered rock and soil that are carried by moving water.
p.4
Stratigraphy and Sedimentation
What is the basis for the enumeration of geologic time units?
Stratigraphy, which is the correlation and classification of rock strata.
p.27
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What is the effect of mass extinctions on marine and terrestrial life?
They significantly alter the abundance and diversity of species.
p.14
Absolute Dating of Fossils
What is the significance of the 12C to 14C ratio in dating fossils?
It allows for the calculation of the fossil's age.
p.25
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
How do tectonic plates affect the Earth's surface?
They shift slowly on the planet’s mantle, changing the earth’s surface.
p.36
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
How did the asteroid impact affect Earth's climate?
It caused the Earth to cool down suddenly.
p.10
Fossils and Paleontology
What is an ichthyosaur?
A marine reptile that lived during the Mesozoic era, resembling modern dolphins.
p.30
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
When did the Devonian extinction occur?
358 million years ago (mya).
p.13
Relative and Absolute Dating of Fossils
What does half-life refer to in the context of radioactive isotopes?
The length of time it takes for half of the radioactive isotope to change into another stable element.
p.30
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
How did land plants contribute to the conditions leading to the Devonian extinction?
They released plenty of nutrients into the water, causing excessive growth of algae.
p.13
Relative and Absolute Dating of Fossils
What is the significance of radiocarbon dating?
It allows for assigning an actual date to a fossil based on the decay of 14C.
p.10
Fossils and Paleontology
What are ammonites?
Extinct marine mollusks with spiral shells, related to modern squids and octopuses.
p.12
Relative and Absolute Dating of Fossils
What is an example of an index fossil mentioned?
Fossil ammonite (shelled cephalopods).
p.27
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What type of life forms are considered in the study of mass extinctions?
Both marine and terrestrial life forms.
p.24
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What happened to the continents after Pangaea began to separate?
All the continents began to separate.
p.26
Climate Change and Mass Extinctions
What are the consequences of catastrophic events on species?
Destruction of ecosystems and extinction of large numbers of species.
p.25
Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
What impact do tectonic movements have on climate and species distribution?
They affect climate and species distribution, allowing the spread and evolution of species.
p.10
Fossils and Paleontology
What can footprints in sediment indicate?
The presence and behavior of ancient organisms.
p.12
Relative and Absolute Dating of Fossils
What do geologists discover about strata of the same age?
Each stratum contains certain index fossils.
What is the collective term for the Hadean, Archean, and Proterozoic eons?
The Precambrian supereon.
What are the primarily defined divisions of time in the geological time scale?
Eons: Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic.
