LE Homework 4.1

Trace fossils are preserved signs of the ________

of an organism rather than actual pieces, molds, or impressions of organisms. While fossilized ________

are not the only kind of trace fossil, they are the best known.

• Footprints and Tracks, Activity or Behavior

• Activity or Behavior, Footprints and Tracks

• Mineralized remains, bones

• Soft parts, muscles and tissue

Which of the following statements about the principle of faunal succession is true? Select all correct answers.

• It relies on radiometric dating techniques

• It assumes that rock layers are deposited on top of one another.

• It assumes that rock layers are deposited beneath one another.

• It assumes that specific combinations of organisms were living only at a certain time in Earth’s history.

Match the evidence to what scientists can learn from that evidence.

• size and depth of dinosaur tracks> size of an organism

• dinosaur tracks/worm trails > how an organism moved

• spacing between footprints > animal's pace

• coprolites > diet of ancient organisms

• All of the above

Which of the following shows the correct progression of organisms on the planet?

• reptiles, fish, hominins

• fish, reptiles, hominins

• prokaryotes, angiosperms, gymnosperms

• Ediacaran fauna, mammals, fish

Which of the following would make the best index fossil?

• An insect that only existed in one small forest for about 100 million years.

• An aquatic animal that existed all over the world for about 15 million years.

• A single-celled organism that lived in a widespread region for about 25 million years.

• A plant species that lived in a specific geographic region for about 5 million years.

When life first evolved on Earth, there was virtually no oxygen in the atmosphere. The earliest prokaryotes were likely ___________meaning they did not require oxygen to produce energy. Over time, ___________ prokaryotes evolved, which made energy from the sun. The chemical reactions involved in this process released __________ into the atmosphere. This allowed for the evolution of eukaryotes.

• Aerobic, chemosynthetic, carbon dioxide

• Anaerobic, photosynthetic, oxygen

• Anaerobic, photosynthetic, carbon dioxide

• Aerobic, photosynthetic, oxygen

Which of the following statements are true about the Cambrian Explosion around the transition between the Precambrian and the Paleozoic era? Select all that apply.

• Life-forms evolved from unicellular organisms to more complex organisms.

• Photosynthesizing organisms first appeared in the fossil record.

• Most major groups of animals first appeared during this time period.

• The Cambrian Explosion occurred over a very long span of time.