Chapter 13, Problem 1RQ

To determine

The reason behind the profound geological knowledge about life that colonized early Paleozoic seafloors as compared to the life that floated and swam above seafloors.

Answer to Problem 1RQ

The presence of immense fossil record helped the geologists to know more about the life forms that colonized early Paleozoic seafloors.

Explanation of Solution

The life forms that colonized early Paleozoic seafloors lived close to the surface of the sediment. These new forms of life possessed skeleton composed of durable minerals. Fossils of these colonized animals in the form of skeletons, teeth, and burrows helped the geologist to gain knowledge about the life that colonized early Paleozoic seafloors.

Fossils are the preserved remains of ancient animals that died thousands or millions of years ago. The most abundant animal groups with skeleton that were colonized in early Paleozoic seafloors were monoplacophoran mollusks, inarticulate brachiopods, and a variety of echinoderms. However, no significant fossil records are available for organisms that swam or floated above the sea floor.