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32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Three constraints for reconstructions |
biological, physiological and chemical possibility |
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paleontology |
general study of fossils |
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Paleobiology |
study of extinct organism lifestyle |
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Functional morphology |
shape of a biological structure is directly relation to its functionality |
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Three methods of reconstruction |
analogy, modelling, context |
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Analogous reconstruction |
based on form/function relationships esp. useful for homologous structures |
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Modelling reconstruction |
use of physical or mathematical modes |
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Context |
based off associated fossils and sediment |
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Relationship between sediment and current |
Finer sediments indicate faster water currents |
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Cost of transport |
energy need to move the body based of muscle composition |
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Cost of transport gives information about |
metabolic requirements and maneuverability |
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Three levels of reliability |
Probable, plausible and possible |
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Body fossils |
record of physical body |
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Trace fossils |
evidence of organismal behavior |
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Ichnotaxa |
species implicated by trace fossil |
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Environmental bias of fossilization |
Favors depositional environments over erosional environments |
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Lagerstatten |
ideal conditions for fossilization |
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Requirements of Lagerstatten |
rapid burial, fine grain sediment, biologically and physiologically benign environment |
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Taphonomy |
study of changes to organic material during fossilization |
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Biotic stage |
birth--> death (gathers information about life) |
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Internment stage |
death --> burial |
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Destructive processes of internment stage |
decomp, dissassociation, abrasion, breakage and winnowing |
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Diagenetic stage |
burial --> discovery |
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Destructive processes of diagenetic stage |
dissolution, compaction and crystal intrusion |
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Investigative stage |
discovery --> eventual loss |
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Biases in fossil records |
adults, hard-boned, depositional, common, large |
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Types of fossilization |
freezing, desiccation, petrifaction, carbonization and trace fossils |
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Desiccation |
produces a mummy, rapid drying in arid environments |
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Petrifaction |
addition of a new chemical (permineralization, replacement and recrystallization) |
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Permineralization |
empty spaces in organic material replaced by new chemical |
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Recrystallization |
modified organic material --> related crystalline form |
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Carbonization |
degradation into carbon film (retains overall form but not internal structure) |
