1. Why the Success of "Jurassic World" Matters to Science - YouTube Why the Success of "Jurassic World" Matters to Science - YouTube

2. The Mesozoic Era Age of the Dinosaurs

3. Mesozoic  Three Periods: –Triassic (245 – 208 mya) –Jurassic (208 – 144 mya) –Cretaceous (144-66 mya)

4. Ammonites: excellent index fossil for the Mesozoic

5. 5 Themes of the Mesozoic 1. Repopulation and rediversification of the Earth after the P-T Event Happened over many millions of years 2. Deserts Pangaea limited moisture distribution 3. Beaches Break-up of Pangaea leads to a new shorelines 4. River Systems Most of Earth’s major river systems begin to form at this time 5. More extinction!

6. Remember The P-T Event?  The massive extinction at the end of the Permian marks the boundary between the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic Eras  The extinction event is not caused by an impact (although one may have contributed)

7. Outcomes of the P-T Event  The loss of so many species allowed other organisms to fill their niches –Where brachipods died out, mollusks and echinoids (starfish family) took over –The loss of amphibians allowed reptiles to flourish and diversify  Dinosaurs are one subgroup of reptiles that developed at this time

8. The Triassic Earth  Pangea existed at the beginning of the Triassic and there were many deserts.  During the Triassic, temperatures were much warmer than they are today. –Polar regions were completely ice free.  Sea level was very near what is it today.  Pangea began breaking up in the late Triassic.

9. The Triassic Earth

10. Triassic Life  The first dinosaurs evolve  Flying and marine reptiles evolve  The first mammals evolve

11. Triassic Life  Mammals –Mammals are warm- blooded animals that nourish young with milk –Mammals do not lay eggs –First mammals were small and rodent-like

12. Triassic Life  Gymnosperms became common –Group of plants with seeds lacking protective cover

13. The Jurassic Earth  Pangea continued to break apart.  New Jurassic seas created mild climates.  Warmer conditions contributed to development of new life forms.  Gulf of Mexico formed by process of seafloor spreading during breakup of Pangea.

14. The Jurassic Earth

15. The Jurassic Life  Dinosaurs became widespread and varied.  Flying reptiles like pterosaurs were common.  Reptiles, such as ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, and mosasaurs adapted to life in the Ocean

16. The Jurassic Life  Birds start to evolve at the end of this period –Scientists think that birds evolved from dinosaurs, such as the Archeoptryx

17.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= e4LQib3u9AY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= e4LQib3u9AY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= e4LQib3u9AY

18. Cretaceous Earth  Shallow seas in western North America created swamps. –Swamps formed Cretaceous coal deposits  Climate is still very warm, but a cooling trend begins  Pangea landmasses continued to move apart.

19. Cretaceous Earth  CONTINENTS STILL ON THE MOVE TO THEIR CURRENT LOCATIONS –The Americas are completely separated from Europe and Africa by this time –N & S America are not joined at this time –Australia and Antarctica are connected –The interior of North America is covered by a shallow ocean – the Interior Western Seaway

20. Cretaceous Earth

21. Cretaceous Life  Mammals begin to diversify (marsupials and placentals evolve)

22. Cretaceous Mass Extinction  At the end of this period, a major extinction event occurred.  Possible causes include: Large meteorite collided with Earth Large meteorite collided with Earth Volcanic eruptions in India led to climate changes (Deccan Traps) Volcanic eruptions in India led to climate changes (Deccan Traps) Disease in dinosaur species Disease in dinosaur species

23. Cretaceous Mass Extinction  This event wipes out the large reptiles like dinosaurs, ichthyosaurs, plesiosaurs, mosasaurs and pterosaurs  Survivors included turtles, snakes, and lizards.

25. Deccan Traps, India

26. Caves carved in lava

27. Cretaceous Life  This Extinction Event (the K-T event) opens the way for the mammals to take over during the next (and current) era – the Cenozoic

28. Rowan Fossil Park with Dr. Ken Lacavora April 24, 2016

29. Hunting for Dinosaurs Showed Me My Place in the Universe Dr. Ken Lacavora Rowan University, Dean School of Earth and the Environment