1. The Fossil Record: Evidence for Evolution

4. Microraptor

5. Frozen woolly
mammoths
from Siberia

6. woolly rhino painting
in Chauvet cave

7. brontotheres

8. Komodo dragons
T. rex

9. Xiphactinus
Coelophysis

10. coprolite = fossil poop

11. regurgitalite =
fossil vomit

12. Mei long

13. nesting
oviraptorosaur

14. pterosaur
vertebrae
spinosaur
tooth

15. Edmontosaurus with bitten and healed tail

17. Growth rings in Tyrannosaurus leg bone

18. Psittacosaurus
“parrot lizard”

19. Psittacosaurus
“parrot lizard”

23. Creche behavior
in penguins…
…and in
Psittacosaurus

24. the dinosaur-eating mammal
Repennomamus,
the dinosaur-eating mammal

25. Series of fossils

27. Archaeopteryx
Microraptor
Caudipteryx
Dilong

35. Problematic origins: successes
limbs
birds
snakes
whales

36. Problematic origins: successes
limbs
birds
snakes
whales
…still waiting…
turtles
pterosaurs
bats

37. Fossilization and Taphonomy

38. What is lost
and
what remains?

39. T. Rex blood vessels
and red blood cells

40. Scanning electron
micrographs of
T. Rex blood vessels
and cells
Bone cell
Blown vessel
with red blood
cells

41. Preservation

42. In most cases, the key to preservation is…
…rapid burial!

44. Erosional environment
Depositional environment

46. Plateosaurus
Einiosaurus

47. Preservation potential: excellent Preservation potential: terrible

48. Problematic origins: successes
limbs
birds
snakes
whales
…still waiting…
turtles
pterosaurs
bats

51. Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)

52. Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)

53. Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)

54. Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)

55. Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)

56. Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)

57. Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)

58. The discovery of deep time
Geologic succession of lifeforms
Evolution
Absolute age of the Earth

59. The discovery of deep time
1700s – Geologic succession of lifeforms
Relative dating: superposition and faunal correlation (Wolf Creek)
1800s – Evolution
Change through time by natural causes
1900s – Absolute age of the Earth
Radiometric dating

60. Darwin’s Five Theories (according to Ernst Mayr)
Evolution as such
Common descent
Multiplication of species; adaptation
Gradualism (versus macromutation)
Natural selection

61. Darwin’s Five Theories (according to Ernst Mayr)
Supported by
fossil evidence?
Evolution as such Yes
Common descent Yes
Multiplication of species; adaptation Yes
Gradualism (versus macromutation) Yes
Natural selection No

62. Background Extinction and Mass Extinctions

66. North America in the
Late Cretaceous, 75 MYA