Fossils …old dead stuff… How old is old? Dr. Deaton > 5000 years = “fossil”

Fossils Fossil Paleontology The remains or evidence of plants or animals that lived long ago. Paleontology The study of fossils

Fossils Why Study Fossils? Are Fossils reliable or biased indicators? Indicators of past environment Are Fossils reliable or biased indicators? Animals with hard parts are more likely to be preserved Insects-- most common animal life form -- only 1% of fossils Some animals are mostly water - jellyfish Earth Science perspectives differ from Life Science perspectives 1] Indicators of the conditions of past environments, and help to predict the future, & 2] help us to date things including the rock type the fossils come from. i.e. scallop – 20 MYO scallop much larger than modern day scallop. Implies growing conditions/climatic conditions. Relative dating = fossil evidence – GUIDE or INDEX fossils. Absolute dating = Radiometric dating, isotopes. BIASED or RELIABLE?? BIASED because it is incomplete

Fossilization Preservation Mummification Freezing Trapping Drying out (often in desert environments) Freezing In arctic regions or high altitude image Trapping Amber (tree sap) or Tar image Petrification (turning to stone) Minerals replace animal parts image FREEZING – frozen 10,000 year old man in Italy, frozen seed in Russian tundra germinates TRAPPING – scientists have extracted reptile-like DNA from mosquitoes trapped in amber, probable dinosaur DNA. PETRIFICATION – Cell by cell mineralization, quite literally turns to stone.

Trace Fossils Imprints Molds Casts Animal tracks, footprints, or burrows image Plant part imprints Molds Empty space left by plant or animal part Casts Mud, sand, or mineral fills mold and makes a cast Coprolites -- Fossilized animal poop IMPRINTS – can infer leg length, speed of travel, hell/toe plant, burrowing habits Rudiodon laid the twelve foot poop (alligator-like reptile) found about an hour away from GSO

GUIDE or INDEX fossils Characteristics Widespread Abundant Short Geologic Range Paleontology – the study of fossils Paleo – means old. ancient

FOSSILS IN SOUTHEAST Aurora, NC – 20-40 MYO Decaying bacteria and sea creatures – phosphate sand COKE, food preservative Siler City/Sanford area Triassic period – great plant fossils Seashells on the mountaintop Coral reefs of KY

Freezing and Mummification

Animal Trapping Amber Tar Pit

Dinosaur National Monument

Fossil Tracks

Animal Tracks