Fossils - The dating game
The dating game
In order to piece together a timeline of life on Earth, scientists need to understand a fossil's age and how it relates to others. This information for all fossils is documented in the fossil recordThe documentation of fossils placed in relationship to one another; a key source to understand the evolution of life on Earth., a key source in understanding how species have evolved. Some organisms dominate the fossil record more than others because of certain physical characteristics. For example, fossils of animals without bones or shells are far more rare than those with hard parts. Marine animals are preserved more readily than land animals because they are more likely to be preserved in soft sediment. This is one reason why estimating the existence span of a species, its first appearance until its extinction, is one of the most challenging parts of the fossil...
[The entire page is 483 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
