Fossils
What is a fossil?
The preserved remains or traces of an organism that lived long ago.
What does extinction mean?
When all members of a species die out.
What is a trait?
A characteristic of an organism.
What field of science studies fossils?
Paleontology.
What do scientists call the natural surroundings where an organism lives?
Habitat.
What type of fossil forms when an organism leaves an impression in rock?
Mold fossil.
Name one reason species might go extinct.
Environmental changes, lack of food, competition, or disasters.
Give an example of a trait that could help an organism survive.
Camouflage, sharp teeth, thick fur, etc.
What do scientists call evidence used to support ideas about the past?
Scientific evidence.
What type of environment do fossils of coral and shells usually indicate?
A marine (ocean) environment.
What do scientists call the process where minerals replace parts of an organism's body?
Fossilization / mineralization.
What is a mass extinction?
When many species go extinct in a short period of time.
Why do traits matter for survival?
Some traits help organisms survive and reproduce.
Why do scientists compare fossils from different rock layers?
To see how organisms changed over time.
What can the presence of plant fossils tell scientists about a past environment?
That plants once grew there.
What type of fossil shows the activity of an organism, like footprints or burrows?
Trace fossils.
How can fossils show evidence of extinction?
Fossils appear in older rock layers but disappear in younger layers.
Where do traits come from?
They are inherited from parents.
What can scientists infer if two fossils look similar but come from different time periods?
The organisms may be related.
Why do scientists study sediment when investigating past environments?
Sediment can reveal how an area formed and what conditions existed.
Why are fossils important for studying evolutionary history?
They provide evidence of organisms that lived in the past.
Why might some organisms survive extinction events while others do not?
Some organisms have traits that help them survive changes.
What happens to traits that help organisms survive better?
They become more common in future generations.
Why can't scientists observe evolutionary history directly?
It happened millions of years ago. ( It takes millions of years to observe ) Humans do not live that long
What might scientists infer if they discover fossils of desert animals in an area that is now a forest?
The environment in that area changed over time.