Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
72 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
What is the fossil record made up of and why is it used? |
The fossil record is made up of all the fossils ever discovered on Earth. It's used to provide evidence that species have changed over time. Based on the fossil evidence scientists can recreate the physical appearance of species that are no longer alive. |
|
|
When animals eat a dead animal what do they usually leave behind? |
They usually leave behind the hard parts-bones, shells, and teeth. These hard parts sometimes become fossils. But if they usually leave behind the soft tissues of animals and plants-skin, muscles, or leaves-they can become fossils too. |
|
|
What is Mineralization? |
Mineralization is the process of when minerals in the water take the place of the organism's original material and harden into rock. When this happens, a fossil forms. The fossil turns to stone. |
|
|
What is carbonization? |
Carbonization is the process of a dead plant or animal being subjected to pressure over time. Pressure drives off the organism's liquids and gases leaving only the carbon outline, or film. |
|
|
What are molds and casts? |
A mold is the impression of an organism in a rock.
A cast is a fossil copy of an organism in a rock. |
|
|
What are trace fossils? |
A trace fossil is the preserved evidence of the activity of an organism.
Example: footprints |
|
|
Define original material |
The actual parts of an organism. This can be preserved. |
|
|
Define relative dating |
A way of dating fossils by what layer it was in. Top layer means young. Bottom layer means old. |
|
|
Define absolute-age dating |
A way of finding the exact age of a fossil using radioactive decay, which is the natural process that happens at a known rate. In radioactive decay, unstable isotopes in rocks change into stable isotopes over time. Scientists measure the ratio of unstable isotopes to stable isotopes to find the age of a rock. |
|
|
Describe dating igneous rocks |
Absolute age is easiest to determine for igneous rocks. They form from volcanic magma. Magma is so hot that's it's rare for parts of organisms in it to remain and form fossils. |
|
|
Describe dating sedimentary rocks |
Finding the exact age of sedimentary rocks is hard to find. To measure the age of a sedimentary rock layer, scientists find the age of igneous layers above and below it. |
|
|
How long have unicellular cells been found in rocks? |
3.4 billion years |
|
|
How old are the oldest fossils? |
565 million years |
|
|
Define geologic time scale |
A chart that divides Earth's 4.6 billion year history into different time units. Longest time 1. Eons 2. Eras 3. Periods 4. Epochs Shortest time period |
|
|
Define extinction |
When the last individual of a species dies. |
|
|
What is the order of the mass extinction events and how many are there? |
1. Late Ordovician 2. Late Devonian 3. Late Permian 4. Late Triassic 5. Late Cretaceous |
|
|
Define sudden changes |
When environments change quickly. |
|
|
Describe gradual changes |
When Earth's tectonic plates move slowly, eventually creating a new ocean or mountain and these changes could cause a species to go extinct. |
|
|
Define biological evolution |
The change over time in populations of related organisms |
|
|
Who's Charles Darwin? |
He was a naturalist who discovered how evolution works. |
|
|
Who's Charles Darwin? |
He was a naturalist who discovered how evolution works. |
|
|
Define naturalist |
A person who studies plants and animals by observing them. |
|
|
Who's Charles Darwin? |
He was a naturalist who discovered how evolution works. |
|
|
Define naturalist |
A person who studies plants and animals by observing them. |
|
|
Define variation |
A slight difference in the appearance of individual members of a species. |
|
|
Who's Charles Darwin? |
He was a naturalist who discovered how evolution works. |
|
|
Define naturalist |
A person who studies plants and animals by observing them. |
|
|
Define variation |
A slight difference in the appearance of individual members of a species. |
|
|
What are variations caused by? |
Mutations. Mutations can lead to changes in phenotypes, which can be passed on to future generations. |
|
|
Who's Charles Darwin? |
He was a naturalist who discovered how evolution works. |
|
|
Define naturalist |
A person who studies plants and animals by observing them. |
|
|
Define variation |
A slight difference in the appearance of individual members of a species. |
|
|
What are variations caused by? |
Mutations. Mutations can lead to changes in phenotypes, which can be passed on to future generations. |
|
|
Define natural selection |
The process by which populations of organisms with variations that help them survive in their environments live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do not have the variations. |
|
|
Who's Charles Darwin? |
He was a naturalist who discovered how evolution works. |
|
|
Define naturalist |
A person who studies plants and animals by observing them. |
|
|
Define variation |
A slight difference in the appearance of individual members of a species. |
|
|
What are variations caused by? |
Mutations. Mutations can lead to changes in phenotypes, which can be passed on to future generations. |
|
|
Define natural selection |
The process by which populations of organisms with variations that help them survive in their environments live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do not have the variations. |
|
|
Define adaption |
A characteristic of a species that enables the species to survive in its environment. |
|
|
Who's Charles Darwin? |
He was a naturalist who discovered how evolution works. |
|
|
Define naturalist |
A person who studies plants and animals by observing them. |
|
|
Define variation |
A slight difference in the appearance of individual members of a species. |
|
|
What are variations caused by? |
Mutations. Mutations can lead to changes in phenotypes, which can be passed on to future generations. |
|
|
Define natural selection |
The process by which populations of organisms with variations that help them survive in their environments live longer, compete better, and reproduce more than those that do not have the variations. |
|
|
Define adaptation |
A characteristic of a species that enables the species to survive in its environment. |
|
|
List and describe the types of adaptations |
Structural Adaptations: involve physical characteristics
Behavioral Adaptations: the way an organism behaves or acts
Functional Adaptations: chemical changes in body systems |
|
|
Define camouflage |
An adaptation that enables species to blend in with their environments |
|
|
Define mimicry |
The resemblance of one species to another |
|
|
Define mimicry |
The resemblance of one species to another |
|
|
What happens if an organism doesn't adapt to items environment? |
They die |
|
|
What are some nonliving things? |
Temperature, climate, water, nutrients in soil |
|
|
Define artificial selection |
Humans choose the variations instead of natural selection |
|
|
Define artificial selection |
Humans choose the variations instead of natural selection |
|
|
Define selective breeding |
The breeding of organisms for desired characteristics |
|
|
Define Amber |
Hardened resin (sap) of ancient trees; preserves delicate insects |
|
|
What type of rock are fossils most found in? |
Sedimentary rocks |
|
|
What era and period are we currently in? |
Precambrian and Hadean |
|
|
What era and period are we currently in? |
Precambrian and Hadean |
|
|
What does the disappearance of many fossils in a rock layer mean? |
There was an extinction event. |
|
|
What era and period are we currently in? |
Precambrian and Hadean |
|
|
What does the disappearance of many fossils in a rock layer mean? |
There was an extinction event. |
|
|
How do extinctions occur? |
When the environment changes (either gradually or suddenly) |
|
|
What era and period are we currently in? |
Precambrian and Hadean |
|
|
What does the disappearance of many fossils in a rock layer mean? |
There was an extinction event. |
|
|
How do extinctions occur? |
When the environment changes (either gradually or suddenly) |
|
|
Define evolution |
Change over time |
|
|
What era and period are we currently in? |
Precambrian and Hadean |
|
|
What does the disappearance of many fossils in a rock layer mean? |
There was an extinction event. |
|
|
How do extinctions occur? |
When the environment changes (either gradually or suddenly) |
|
|
Define evolution |
Change over time |
|
|
What did Darwin conclude? |
The tortoises had a common ancestor and variations later occur through natural selection. |
