2. Fossils are any evidence of past life. Body fossils > > parts of the body of an organism - - e.g. --> pollen, leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, bones, fur, teeth, and shells. Trace fossils > > indicators of past activity of organisms - - e.g.--> tracks, trails, burrows, and wastes. are any evidence of past life. Body fossils > > parts of the body of an organism - - e.g. --> pollen, leaves, stems, flowers, seeds, bones, fur, teeth, and shells. Trace fossils > > indicators of past activity of organisms - - e.g.--> tracks, trails, burrows, and wastes.

3. Fossil Record Generally incomplete > due to - poor presevation - poor observation & recovery - poor fossilzation potential Generally incomplete > due to - poor presevation - poor observation & recovery - poor fossilzation potential

4. To Be or Not to Be... a Fossil To Be or Not to Be... a Fossil chances are better that you could become a fossil if: > A) You have hard parts - like teeth, bones, or shell > B) You are buried rapidly - prevents recycling of organic materials by being eaten by something > C) You are prolific - there is a lot of your type around chances are better that you could become a fossil if: > A) You have hard parts - like teeth, bones, or shell > B) You are buried rapidly - prevents recycling of organic materials by being eaten by something > C) You are prolific - there is a lot of your type around

6. This fossil fly and fern were compressed by sediment. This is a type of body fossil In addition, it has, along with the ferns, also undergone a process called Carbonization This fossil fly and fern were compressed by sediment. This is a type of body fossil In addition, it has, along with the ferns, also undergone a process called Carbonization

7. Types of Fossilization Iron Sulfide Replacement These fossils have undergone a process calledReplacement original mineral components where replaced with an equivalent amount The feature on the far left is a pyrite sun (a psuedo-fossil) whereas those on the right are pyritized ammonites. These fossils have undergone a process called Replacement, where the original mineral components where replaced with an equivalent amount of a new mineral. The feature on the far left is a pyrite sun (a psuedo-fossil) whereas those on the right are pyritized ammonites.

14. Trace Fossils Interpretation of trace fossils and their relationship to paleo-environmental setting is termed Ichnology Interpretation of trace fossils and their relationship to paleo-environmental setting is termed Ichnology Evidence of biologic activity > Tracks > Feeding traces > Dwellings specific traces (e.g. tracks made by known species )are called Ichnofacies Evidence of biologic activity > Tracks > Feeding traces > Dwellings specific traces (e.g. tracks made by known species )are called Ichnofacies

15. Common Categorical Ichnofacies (Fossil Behavior) Cubichnia - resting traces caused as the animal stopped its motion to take rest or refuge >Often found on the surfaces of beds Domichnia - dwelling traces excavated by some living thing for the purposes of establishing a home >Often penetrates into specific lithologies, disrupting beds Fugichnia - fleeing or escape traces caused as an organism "bolted" from their burrow to escape some threat Repichnia - crawling traces, appearing on the surface of beds Pasichnia - grazing traces caused as the organism systematically combed the sediment in the horizontal plane for food

16. Common Categorical Ichnofacies (Fossil Behaviour) Agrichnia - - "farming" traces caused as they burrowed into the surrounding sediment then returned to a dwelling structure > > Often found on the surfaces of beds (or on the sole of the overlying bed Fodichnia - - deposit feeding traces excavated by some living thing as it ate the sediment, removed the nutrients, and then passed the remains out of the organism into the chamber > > a three dimensional structure, that can be either branching or single limbed, horizontal, vertical, or at some inclined angle

21. Uses of Fossils Fossils are used for: > Determining EOD's, > Correlation of rocks, > Jewelry & Collectables, phylogenetic studies of living and fossil organisms. Many organisms are known only from fossils. > e.g. Trilobites, Dinosaurs, Mammoths Fossils are used for: > Determining EOD's, > Correlation of rocks, > Jewelry & Collectables, phylogenetic studies of living and fossil organisms. Many organisms are known only from fossils. > e.g. Trilobites, Dinosaurs, Mammoths

22. Systematics Taxonomic Classification of Living (and once living) things Linnean Classification scheme Based on morphology and structure of parts - - e.g., four legs would be form, with one upper bone and two lower bones would be structure used in taxonomic classification - - must be latin or latinized - - must use binomial classification at the fundamental level > > Genus and species - - must be printed and italicized with the Genus capitalized and the species in lower case > > Homo sapiens is our taxonomic classification at the Genus and species level

32. Interpretation of the Record Evidence for Large Scale Extinctions > Ordovician/Silurian Extinction - related to global cooling & glaciation > Devonian/Mississippian Extinction - related to global cooling & glaciation > Permian/Triassic Extinction - 90% of all known species became extinct > Cretaceous/Tertiary Extinction - Dinosaurs 130 million year dominance ended > Pleistocene/Holocene Extinction - Many large land mammals became extinct Evidence for Large Scale Extinctions > Ordovician/Silurian Extinction - related to global cooling & glaciation > Devonian/Mississippian Extinction - related to global cooling & glaciation > Permian/Triassic Extinction - 90% of all known species became extinct > Cretaceous/Tertiary Extinction - Dinosaurs 130 million year dominance ended > Pleistocene/Holocene Extinction - Many large land mammals became extinct

34. Age of the Dinosaurs The Mesozoic era > Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous > Existed and dominant species for 170 my or so The Mesozoic era > Triassic, Jurassic, Cretaceous > Existed and dominant species for 170 my or so Became extinct 65 mya > Meteorite impact(?) - Yuctan area in Gulf of Mexico > Climate Change (?) > Volcanic activity (?) > Disease (?) Became extinct 65 mya > Meteorite impact(?) - Yuctan area in Gulf of Mexico > Climate Change (?) > Volcanic activity (?) > Disease (?)