Concept explainers
Why is the fossil record incomplete?
a. | Because many organisms with soft body parts never fossilize. |
b. | Because many fossils are destroyed by geological events |
c. | Because many fossils are buried where no one will ever find them |
d | All of the above are correct. |
Introduction:
Fossils are dead remains of the organism that existed during prehistoric times. Fossil study helps in the estimation of the evolutionary relationship among the organism. These also provide information about the nature of climatic condition during early periods of the Earth’s history.
Answer to Problem 1MCQ
Correct answer:
Many organisms with soft body parts never fossilize, many fossils are destroyed by the geological events, and some fossils are present where no one can locate them. This is the reason for the incomplete fossil records. Hence, the correct answer is option d.
Explanation of Solution
Reason for correct answer:
Option d. is given as, “All of the above are correct.”
Fossil records are incomplete because many organisms with soft body parts never become fossilized, some fossils are destroyed during geological events such as continental drifts, and many fossils are buried at places where no one can ever find them.
Reason for incorrect answer:
Option a. is given as, “because many organisms with soft body parts never fossilize.”
The organism with soft body parts such as sponges and algae never fossilize because the soft body of the organism often mixes with the sediments. However, this is not the only reason for the incomplete fossil records. Hence, option a. is incorrect.
Option b. is given as, “because many fossils are destroyed by geological events.”
The major geologic events such as the movement of continental plates and glacier retreat destroy the fossils. This is one of the reasons that fossil records are incomplete. Hence, option b. is incorrect.
Option d. is given as, “because many fossils are buried where no one will ever find them.”
Many fossils of the aquatic organism are buried under the deep oceanic levels and are difficult to study. However, this is just one of the reasons for fossil records to be incomplete.
Hence, option c. is incorrect.
Hence, the options a., b., and c. are not incorrect but incomplete.
Fossil records are incomplete because many of the organisms with soft body parts never fossilize, many fossils destroyed by the geological events, and many fossils are present where no one can locate them. Thus, the correct option is d.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 13 Solutions
BIOLOGY: THE ESSENTIALS LL+CONNECT >CB<
- In which type of rock are you most likely to find a fossil? a. basalt, a dark, fine-grained volcanic rock b. limestone, composed of sedimented calcium carbonate c. slate, a volcanically melted and cooled shale d. granite, which forms by crystallization of magma cooling below Earth’s surfacearrow_forwardOne type of fish fossil is found only in a rock layer near the bottom of a canyon, while a different kind of fish fossil is found only in a rock layer 4,000 feet higher, near the top of the canyon. Which statement would a scientist most likely offer to explain this situation? A.) The fish in the lower layer lived in the deep sea. While the other fish lived in shallow water. B.) The fish in the upper layer lived a healthier life than the other fish. C.) The rock in the lower layer is denser than the rock in the upper layer D.) The rock in the upper layer must have formed in freshwater E.) The fish in the upper layer lived more recently than the other fish. The Geologic Time Scale is a systematic chronological dating process that relates geological strata to time. This methodology is commonly used be geologists, paleontologists, and other Earth scientists to describe the timing and relationships of events that once occurred in history. Which of the following statements can be…arrow_forwardUsing the phylogeny, which statement best explains the evolutionary relationship of birds and bats? A. C is an example of divergent evolution shows a common ancestor. B. C is an example of convergent evolution does not show a common ancestor. C. A and B are examples of analogous structures derived from a common ancestor. D. A and B are examples of homologous structures that are not derived from a common ancestor.arrow_forward
- The genus Homo dates back to about____. a. 3.9 million years ago b. 1.8 million years ago c. 250,000 years ago d. 2.8 million years agoarrow_forwardOrganisms that are closer together on a cladograma. are in the same family.b. comprise an outgroup.c. share a more recent common ancestor than those organisms that are farther apart.d. share fewer derived characters than organisms that are farther apart.arrow_forwardThe fossil record provides evidence for: A.When organisms lived on earth B. How some species have gone extinct C.How species evolved D. All of the abovearrow_forward
- About when did the common ancestor of chimpanzees, humans, gorillas, and orangutans last exist? a. Between 5 and 8 million years ago b. Less than 5 million years ago c. More than 15 million years ago d. Between 10 and 15 million years ago e. Between 8 and 10 million years agoarrow_forwardWhich factor most likely caused animals and plants in India todiffer greatly from species in nearby southeast Asia?(A) The species became separated by convergent evolution.(B) The climates of the two regions are similar.(C) India is in the process of separating from the rest of Asia.(D) India was a separate continent until 45 million years ago.arrow_forwardWhich evolutionary pattern is represented by the similarities between these two organisms that live on separate continents? a.) coevolution b.) convergent evolution c.) directional evolution d.) divergent evolutionarrow_forward
- Which features characteristic of humans are unlikely to fossilize? a. the bones and dung b. the jaws and dung c. behavioural and soft tissue features d. behavioural and hard tissue featuresarrow_forwardWhich of the following statements about the fossil record is true? a. The fossil record is a complete accounting of life on earth b. The fossil record is unbiased in the fossils that are found c. The fossil record is evenly sampled across all of life's history on earth d. There are certain biases in the fossil recordarrow_forwardWhat kind of fossils were formed out of dinosaur remains and activities? Why do you say so? (Give three)arrow_forward
- Concepts of BiologyBiologyISBN:9781938168116Author:Samantha Fowler, Rebecca Roush, James WisePublisher:OpenStax CollegeBiology (MindTap Course List)BiologyISBN:9781337392938Author:Eldra Solomon, Charles Martin, Diana W. Martin, Linda R. BergPublisher:Cengage Learning