The Geologic Timetable

http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/exhibit/geology.html

1. Give the relative time position for the CENOZOIC Era.

Briefly explain the kinds of life forms that evolved and flourished during this time.

The Cenozoic Era is divided into six small lengths of time called Epochs. List these six epochs from most recent to most distant.

What is the general time position of the Pleistocene epoch? Write a paragraph describing this time and emphasizing the plants, animals (saber-toothed tiger for example), and geologic processes that were noteworthy.

2. Give the relative time position for the MESOZOIC ("middle-animal") Era.

Briefly explain the kinds of life forms that evolved and flourished during this time. This era is divided into three time periods: the __________ (245-208 Million Years Ago), the _______________(208-146 Million Years Ago), and the _______(146-65 Million Years Ago).

Who invented the term DINOSAUR and what does it mean?

The term "dinosaur" has had a long history of misrepresentation. List the three general "dinosaur" myths.

3. Give the relative time position for the PALEOZOIC Era.

The Paleozoic is bracketed by two of the most important events in the history of animal life. At its beginning, multicelled animals underwent a dramatic "explosion" in diversity, and almost all living animal phyla appeared within a few millions of years. At the other end of the Paleozoic, the largest mass extinction in history wiped out approximately 90% of all marine animal species. The causes of both these events are still not fully understood and the subject of much research and controversy

Briefly explain the kinds of life forms that evolved and flourished during this time.

Many Paleozoic rocks are economically important. For example, much of the limestone quarried for building and industrial purposes, as well as the coal deposits of western Europe and the eastern United States, were formed during the Paleozoic.

What was Pangea?

During the Devonian, what two major animal groups colonized the land?

Which period during the Paleozoic Era marks an important point in the history of life on earth, a time when most of the major groups of animals first appear in the fossil record. This event is sometimes called the "__________ Explosion", because of the relatively short time over which this diversity of forms appears.

During which period of time in the Paleozoic would you find an abundance of wonderful Trilobites?

4. Now that you've examined the Cenozoic, Mesozoic, and Paleozoic Eras make a chart or timetable showing the approximate years (mya=million years ago) of the eras and the epochs or periods within each era. You don't need to chart the subdivisions of the periods.

5.. Go to this web site to study some terrific animations about continental drift: http://www.scotese.com/pangeanim.htm

Download Pangeo VR. Tracing time back 200 million years make a simple diagram of the history of the North American, South American, and African continents, what happens to them?