The Use of Fossils in Interpreting Past Environments

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Author:

Brent Breithaupt

Subject:

Science and Technology

Institution Name:

University of Wyoming

Collection:

Association for Biology Laboratory Education (ABLE)

Grade Level:

Post-secondary

Abstract:

The earth's environment has changed dramatically over the past 4.5 billion years. A comparison of the remains of fossilized and recent organisms, associated with an understanding of geological processes (both past and present), allows scientists to interpret what ancient environments were like. This exercise was developed to help students understand (1) how past environments are determined and (2) how paleontological specimens illustrate such concepts as evolution, extinction, adaptation, paleobehavior, paleodiets, and paleoecology. Instructions for making molds and casts of specimens are included.

Course Type:

Learning Module

Languages:

English

Material Type:

Activities and Labs, Lesson Plans

Media Format:

Downloadable docs

Conditions of Use:

Custom Permissions
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Use solely at one's own institution with no intent for profit is excluded from the preceding copyright restriction, unless otherwise noted on the copyright notice of the individual chapter in this volume. Proper credit to this publication must be included in your laboratory outline for each use; a sample citation is given [on the copyright page of each volume]. Upon obtaining permission or with the "sole use at one's own institution" exclusion, ABLE strongly encourages individuals to use the exercises in this proceedings volume in their teaching program.