History Of The Biosphere Exam 1

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Paleobiology

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the study of life through geologic time; the reconstruction of fossils as living organisms

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Biosphere

Back 2

includes all living organisms interacting with the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere to maintain a steady-state system of energy flow

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Environment

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sum total of physical, chemical & biotic conditions influencing the responses of organisms

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Habitat

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specific sets of physical & chemical conditions of a species or community (subset of environment)

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Biotope

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topographic area characterized by both uniform physical conditions & biota

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Geobiology

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the study of the processes and evolution of the coupled Earth-life system through time. It integrates data and hypotheses from stratigraphy, sedimentology, geochemistry, molecular biology, climate modeling, and paleontology

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Science

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investigations employing observation, identification, description, & experimentation to develop theoretical explanations of natural phenomena

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Scientific Method

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the principles & processes of scientific study to gain knowledge; rules for concept formation, conduct of observations & experiments, & validation of hypotheses by observations & experiments

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6 Steps in Scientific Method

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1. Observations
2. Data collection
3. Hypothesis formulation
4. Testing hypothesis
5. Theory development
6. Laws of nature

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laws of nature

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generally accepted principles that explain phenomena

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theory

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well tested hypothesis accepted by many scientists & used to produce results

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Inductive

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from particular to general

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Deductive

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from general to particular conclusions that follow from the premises or proposition & assumptions

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Accurate

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having no errors is correct

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Precise

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action repeated within narrow limits

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Lithosphere

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the solid, rocky crust covering entire planet

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Hydrosphere

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all of the water on or near the earth

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Atmosphere

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the body of air which surrounds our planet

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Fossil

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identifiable remains of living organisms, or of their activities, preserved in the rocks by natural processes

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Taphonomy

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the study of the many environmental phenomena that affect organic remains throughout their entire postmortem history

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Biostratinomy

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the study of the environmental factors that affect organic remains between organisms death and the final burial of the remains

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Ichnology

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the study of trace fossils

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life assemblage

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groups of fossils preserved living together

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death assemblage

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the preserved members of a life assemblage

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taphocoenosis

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groups of fossils sorted, transported & mixed together

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Geochronology

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determining the time sequences of events in Earth history the defining geochronological units; Law of Superposition; quantitative measurement of geologic time by radiometric methods

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Chronometric Scale

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units of duration Earth year: annum = a, millions years (myr)

units of age: mega-annum (Ma); Giga-annum (Ga)

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Geochronological Units

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an interval of geologic time: eon, era, period, epoch

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Chronostratigraphic Scale

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a scale of rock successions with standard reference points in sections representing continuous deposition to define boundaries

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GSSP

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global stratotype section & point

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Chronostratigraphic Unit
e.g.

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a body of rock strata formed during a specific time interval & bounded by isochronous surfaces: erathem, system, series, stage

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Lithostratigraphic Unit
e.g.

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a body of rock characterized by its lithology, its observable mappable features: group, formation, member

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Biostratigraphic Unit
e.g.

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a body of rock strata characterized by its fossil content: zone

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Geomagnetic Unit
e.g.

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a stratigraphic interval having a constant magnetic field: polarity zone (chron)

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Precambrian Times:
Phanerozoic Eon =
Proterozoic Eon =
Ediacaran Period =
Archean Eon =

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Phanerozoic Eon = 542 Ma-present = 12% of geologic time
Proterozoic Eon = 2500-542 Ma = 42% of geologic time
Ediacaran Period =
630-542 Ma
Archean Eon = 4.6-2.5 Ga = 46% of geologic time

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Eons (youngest to oldest)

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Phanerozoic = 542 Ma-present
Proterozoic = 2500-542 Ma
Archaean = 4.6-2.5 Ga

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Periods (oldest to youngest)

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Cambrian 542
Ordovician 488
Silurian 444
Devonian 416
Mississippian 359
Pennsylvanian 318
Permian 299
Triassic 251
Jurassic 200
Cretaceous 146
Paleogene 66
Neogene 23-present