Interpreting Dinosaur Habitats

He noticed that the rocks at the top of the section had a very high percentage of fossils of living mollusc species. Those at the bottom of the section had very few living forms. He deduced that this difference was because of the extinction of older forms and the evolution of living forms during the time that the rocks were being deposited. He divided the Tertiary rocks into three sub-ages: the Pliocene, the Miocene, and the Eocene. 90% of the fossil molluscs in Pliocene rocks were living today. In the Miocene rocks, only 18% of the molluscs were of living species, and in Eocene rocks, only 9.5%.” (Polly et al.,

Gerta Keller, professor of geosciences at Princeton University, has recently conducted research on the Chicxulub asteroid in which she analyzed new core samples taken from the asteroid site (Botzer 2004). These samples indicate that the impact that occurred at Chicxulub actually predated the mass extinction of the dinosaurs, which occurred at the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary about sixty-five million years ago. Keller claims that the Chicxulub impact occurred approximately 300,000 years before the extinction (Keller 2004). Although previous researchers estimated that the Chicxulub asteroid was the cause of the extinctions, there had always been doubts about the exact age and size of the crater, and about the origin of the “mega tsunami deposits” that were located within the crater (Keller 2004). The focus of Keller’s recent research was on finding some answers to these questions. To do so she analyzed Cretaceous limestone, dolomite, and anhydrite deposits as the site of the Chicxulub crater (Keller 2004).

In the following space, explain the role of fossils in developing the Geologic column. Your explanation must be between 200 and 300 words.

Below these Carboniferous rocks, Devonian rocks are also exposed. These rocks can be found along the northern edge and southeastern margin of the plateau, where strata is nearly vertical. These two geologic systems have also been subdivided into numerous formations categorized according to their lithologic aspect and the fossil fauna and flora which they

The reading passage proposes three theories which support the idea that a dinosaur which is called edmontosaurus survived in the winter by migrating to the south, the more hospitable region than the extremely cold in the North Slope. However, the professor in the listening respectively contradicts each theory in the reading passage by using strong evidence as support.

Explain why the author and his colleagues chose to focus on 375 million year old rocks in their search for fossils. Be sure to include the types of rocks and their location during their paleontology work in 2004.

_______8. In horizontal layers, the oldest rock is at the bottom, and youngest rock at the top layers.

In a study published in Cretaceous Research and conducted in October 2012 by Anthony R. Fiorillo, Thomas L. Adams and Yoshitsugu Kobayashi, evidence of dinosaurs was based on the finding of an unnamed nonmarine sedimentary package of rocks. Found in the Wrangellia Terrane and considered to be Cretaceous age, the rocks are light colored with medium grey shales and indicate a bounty of horsetails, ferns and gymnosperm wood.

Abstract: This paper deals with the Shantungosaurus Giganteus and its discovery, fossil information, its phylogeny and reconstructed life habit. The features of the Shantungosaurus include flat beaks, large jaws, and large holes near their nostrils. They prefers high ground and lived in warm weather with ample precipitation. Theses herbivores behavior includes being social or companionable as well as terrestrial. These dinosaurs would travel in herds due to the ongoing treat of predators attacking. The Shantungosaurus did have the ability to defend itself but also knew when to flee if a predator bigger than them came along. These dinosaurs survived until the Late Cretaceous period until one of the greatest mass extinctions happened which ended

The Crato Formation lithologies were most likely deposited when there was a marine transgression; which is what the Cretaceous period is renowned for (Hu et al. 2012). The build-up of laminated limestones and different lithologies in the stratigraphic column could suggest that it was a lagoon depositional environment (Martill and Frey, 1998).

British Colombia in Canada, much like California in the United States, used to be a shallow sea and home to much sea life and is now home to thousands of marine animal fossils. For this reason it is believed that Dinosaur Provincial Park consisted of a lot of sands and muds that are characteristic of costal plains (Sues, Henderson, & Tanke, 2010, pg. 1292). When Sues, Henderson, and Tanke (2010) where going about measuring fossil shifts and the amount of fossils that have been lost they took into account the amount of soil that erodes away every year, the vertical and horizontal distribution fossils found within the park, and large landmarks such as rivers and glaciers that could effect fossils in the area (pg.1293). Accounting for these factors

The author and his colleagues chose to focus on 375 million year old rocks in their search for fossils because amphibians that look dissimilar to fish were discovered in 365 million year old rocks, while fish without amphibian characteristics were discovered in 385 million year old rocks. Thus, it is possible that the evolutionary intermediary, or the “missing link” between fish and amphibians, would be discovered in 375 million year old rocks, between the two time periods. The rocks examined were sedimentary in composition, as the gradual and relatively gentle formation of sedimentary rock under conditions of mild pressure and low heat are conducive to the fossilization of animal remains. Sedimentary rock is also often formed in rivers and seas, where animals are likely to live. This site provides a resource that describes means by which fossils are formed and how the fossil record may be interpreted, and shows some examples of fossils demonstrating evolution through geological periods: http://www.fossilmuseum.net/fossilrecord.htm. In 2004, Shubin and his colleagues were looking for fossils on Ellesmere Island, in northern Canada. This location was chosen because of its lack of human development, as well as of obstructing natural formations and life forms such as trees, which

For years, many discoveries and assumptions have been made about dinosaurs. All around the world, new dinosaur fossils are found and paleontologist continued to be baffled and amazed at the traits these creatures possessed. Naturally, researchers ask questions about the newly-discovered fossils. Was this dinosaur aquatic? Is it a herbivore or a carnivore? Did it take care of its young? There are many theories based on the appearance of fossils and what they can tell us by studying the modern day animals. Basically, it all comes down to what can the physical traits of these dinosaurs tell us about its behavior? In my research, I analyze articles about the different traits that three of the carnivorous dinosaurs; Giganotosaurus, Spinosaurus, and T-Rex possessed that made them seem like the top hunters of their time period. I researched how each of their unique attributes could have affected their behavior and how that could have played a role in their environment. Although, Spinosaurus, T-Rex and Giganotosarus have been known as the apex predators of their time period, their behavior is mostly assumed by what their traits tell us.

: Fossils are the remains or traces of ancient organisms which have been preserved. For example, a fossil can exist as skeletal remains or even as a footprint. Such organisms are subjected to a slow rate of decaying since they have been rapidly buried under conditions that facilitate this. It is common for fossils to occur as hard-bodied organisms as these are more resistant to environmental influences. Fossils are usually found embedded in rock. The layers of rock are of different age and makeup. Hence fossils found in one layer would vary in characteristics from those found in another layer. They can be observed and analyzed through visual as well as radiometric means so that the age and morphology can be determined. These features indicate

Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton demonstrated many dinosaur characteristics and behaviors. The dinosaurs were fictionally characterized to appeal to the readers. By examining the dinosaur’s appearance and behaviors of dinosaurs such as the duckbilled dinosaur, velociraptor, hypsilophodontids, dilophosaurs, Triceratops, apatosaurs, Tyrannosaurus rex, stegosaurs, and maiasaurs distinguished whether the evidence existed in the field of paleontology. The behaviors and characteristics of the dinosaur are divided into three factors as behaviors that were supported, not supported, and no evidence to support or refute the behavior.