MassExtinction-StudentWS-CL
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Fortis Institute, Port Saint Lucie *
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GMAS125
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Geology
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Feb 20, 2024
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EarthViewer: Mass Extinctions Click & Learn
Student Worksheet
www.BioInteractive.org INTRODUCTION At least five times in Earth’s past, the vast majority of plant and animal species have been annihilated in a geologic instant. What triggered these dramatic events, and what might they tell us about the fate of our world? What do we know about Earth’s past history, and what does science tell us about the coevolution of Earth’s systems and life? ABOUT THIS WORKSHEET Students will use two BioInteractive resources to explore the science of mass extinctions: Mass Extinction: Life at the Brink
, a feature film available on the BioInteractive Films to Inspire webpage
, and EarthViewer, an app that can be launched or installed from downloadable files on the EarthViewer resource webpage
. ENGAGE AND EXPLORE 1.
On the Films to Inspire webpage
, locate the film Mass Extinction: Life at the Brink
and watch the introduction
to the film, (0:00 – 1:55). 2.
Turn to a partner and share any questions this brief film clip generates in your mind. Record your ideas as instructed by your teacher. 3.
Launch and explore the features of EarthViewer
:
Click, hold, and drag to rotate the planet.
Click, hold, and drag down the horizontal silver slider on the timeline; watch what happens to the planet and the data indicators as you move backward and forward in time.
Position the silver timeline slider at 0 MYA (top of the timeline). Click on the left "play" button at the bottom of the timeline; watch what happens. When the silver bar stops at the bottom, click on the right "play" button and watch again.
Position the silver timeline slider at 0 MYA. Click on "Charts" at the bottom of the screen. Choose a chart.
Now click on the left "play" button at the bottom of the timeline. Watch what happens on your chosen chart as the slider moves down the timeline.
Click "pause" before the slider reaches the bottom of the timeline. Note that your chosen chart will show
a demarcation in the data for that point in time.
Close your chart in Earth Viewer by clicking on the "X" in the upper right-hand corner. 4.
Make sure the timeline displays 0–540 million years and then click on "View" at the bottom of the screen; turn on "Mass Extinctions." Click "View" again to minimize the menu. 5.
Note the five yellow triangles that appear on the right side of the timeline. These correspond to mass extinctions. Updated May 2022 Page 1 of 5
www.BioInteractive.org 6.
Gather data: Drag the slider to the Ordovician extinction, 440 MYA. Use the Earth Viewer features to fill in the following chart. For Biodiversity, you will need to move the slider carefully and record the number of marine genera present just before and just after the extinction event. Gather data in the same manner for the remaining four mass extinctions. Mass Extinction MYA What was Earth's
surface like? Landmasses? Proportion of
land to water? Avg. Surfac
e Temp.,
°C O
2
(%) CO
2
(ppm) Day
Length Luminosity Biodiversity (# of genera
just before &
just after
extinction) Ordovician 440
There was one main land mass with 3 other smaller land masses mostly clumped together
and a few islands.
Other than that, it’s mostly water. 15.5
18.1
4778
21.8 h
96.16
1368-869
Devonian 360
The four land masses are starting to clump together more however they are
connected by shallow seas. It’s still mostly water.
16.3
28.2
3401
22.2
96.92
1025-833
Permian 250
The land masses are now one big land mass. The land mass also takes up a bit more space than the four did but still a significant amount of dominate water percentage. 18.1
25.8
590
22.8
97.86
1172-293
Triassic 200
The land mass grew in size and is
starting to break apart as well. Still
very closely clumped together. The proportion from land to water is 14.9
20.6
1366
23
98.24
634-520
Updated May 2022 Page 2 of 5
Click & Learn Student Worksheet Earth Viewer: Mass Extinctions
www.BioInteractive.org about 40 land and 60 water. Cretaceous 65
The landmass is broken up and is beginning to create the foundations of the present-day continents, however it’s not completely there.
The water ratio is still about 40% land 60% water.
15.9
22.7
846
23.7
99.48
2185-1401
Present 0
The land masses are broken up into the continents known
today and the water percentage
still seems to be roughly 40% land 60% water
14.5
21
392
24
100
2470-TBD
a.
Do any patterns and correlations emerge from your chart? Does any of the data suggest an explanation for the occurrence of mass extinctions? The hours in a day and luminosity get longer and brighter as time moves toward the present. However, one does not see any specific reason for these mass extinctions based on the data.
b.
Calculate the biodiversity loss in each extinction and report in terms of percentage. Ordovician Devonian Permian Triassic Cretaceous % of Genera
Lost c.
What questions do you now have about mass extinctions? No current questions just the thought that mass extinctions are like a reset button or a cleansing period for earth
to restart a bit and refresh. Especially with the flowers during the cretaceous era. Like a quick spa day. Updated May 2022 Page 3 of 5
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