Fossils: Classification, Types, and Preservation

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Questions and Answers

Match the following levels of hierarchical classification:

Kingdom = Second highest taxonomic rank below Domain. Class = A taxonomic rank below Phylum and above Order. Family = A taxonomic rank below Order and above Genus. Order = A taxonomic rank below Class and above Family.

Match the following terms related to fossils with their descriptions:

Fossil = Any object providing evidence of prehistoric life. Taphonomy = Study of changes between an organism’s death and fossil discovery. Paleoecology = The study of fossilized organisms, their life, and environment. Biomarker = Chemical signatures indicating past life.

Match the fossil types with their correct description:

Physical Remains = Actual shells, bones, or hard parts of an organism. Mineral Replacements = Original material replaced by minerals. Biological Impressions = Fossil records, such as tracks, trails, and burrows. Chemical Signatures = Distinctive substances, such as biomarkers, indicating past life.

Match the phrase with its level in the classification of life:

Domain = The broadest classification of life. Phylum = A primary division within a kingdom. Subphylum = A secondary division within a phylum. Order = A division within a class. Signup and view all the answers

Match the fossil preservation mode with its information retention:

Unaltered Soft Parts = Best preservation; soft tissues remain intact. Altered Hard Parts = Hard parts chemically changed; some information lost. Leached Fossils = Original material dissolved; minimal information. Biogenic Structures = Traces of life (e.g., burrows); environmental clues. Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of fossil with its description:

Steinkern = Internal features only, often muscle attachments. Cast = Internal and external features, full replica. Replica = External features only. Mold = External features only, preserves shell structure. Signup and view all the answers

Match the fossilization process with its description:

Permineralization = Pores filled with minerals. Replacement = Original material dissolves and is replaced by minerals. Leaching = Original material dissolves, leaving a void. Biostratification = Fossilized bacterial structure. Signup and view all the answers

Match the mineral with the conditions under which it commonly replaces fossils:

Dolomite = Carbonate mineral Silica = Often opal. Pyrite = Anoxic conditions. Limonite/Goethite = Iron hydroxides. Signup and view all the answers

Match the biogenic structure with its description:

Stromatolites = Laminated microbial buildups. Thrombolites = Unlaminated, clotted microbial buildups. Trace fossils = Tracks, trails, burrows, or borings. Replica = External features only Signup and view all the answers

Match the fossil type with its dimensional representation:

Steinkern = 3D Cast = 3D Replica = 3D Mold = 2D Signup and view all the answers

Match the process with its example:

Silicified wood = Replacement. Permineralized Dinosaur Bones = Permineralization. Molluscs = Leached Fossils. Stromatolites = Biostratification. Signup and view all the answers

Match the fossil with its primary environment:

Stromatolites = High salinity, high water temperature, strong currents. Steinkern = Internal features only. Cast = Full Replica. Replica = External features only. Signup and view all the answers

Match the fossil type with the feature preserved:

Steinkern = Internal Muscle Attachments Replica = External Features Mold = Shell structure Cast = Internal and external features Signup and view all the answers

Match the following preservation methods with their corresponding descriptions:

Freezing = Preservation via very low temperature. Mummification = Preservation through dehydration/desiccation. Obrution = Preservation through rapid burial. Anoxia = Preservation due to oxygen depletion. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following minerals with the organism group that commonly uses them for hard parts:

Calcite = Brachiopods Aragonite = Molluscs Silica = Radiolaria Phosphate = Vertebrate bones Signup and view all the answers

Match the following altered hard part processes with their descriptions:

Recrystallization = Change in crystal structure, no compositional change. Carbonization = Removal of volatile elements, leaving a carbon film. Permineralization = Pores infilled with minerals precipitated from fluids. Unaltered Hard Parts = Original mineral composition remains intact. Signup and view all the answers

Match the following fossil types to whether they are hard or soft parts:

Vertebrate Bones = Hard Part Chitin = Hard Part Mummified Tissue = Soft Part Carbonized Film = Soft Part Signup and view all the answers

Match each preservation type with the presence of alteration:

Unaltered Soft Parts = No change to organic tissues Altered Soft Parts = Carbonization or mineralization Unaltered Hard Parts = Original mineral intact Altered Hard Parts = Recrystallization Signup and view all the answers

Match the example mineral with the correct formula:

Aragonite = CaCO3 Quartz = SiO2 Graphite = C Cellulose = n(C6H10O5) Signup and view all the answers

Match the organism with the type of preservation:

Wood/Plant Material = Cellulose Arthropods = Chitin/Collagen Diatoms = Silica Modern Corals = Aragonite Signup and view all the answers

Match the correct era with the preservation example:

Recent Earth History = Conservation Traps Phanerozoic = Altered hard parts Signup and view all the answers

Match the characteristic of a good index fossil with its description:

Rapid rates of speciation and extinction = Evolve quickly, making them great markers for short time periods Pelagic nature = Being pelagic, they are broadly distributed across the world’s oceans in many regions Abundance = Relatively abundant in fossil records Readily recognizable = Easily identifiable features, making them great indicators for precise dating Signup and view all the answers

Match the time period with the appearance of new predators.

Neoproterozoic = No predators Cambrian = Demersal predators Ordovician = Cephalopods Devonian = Fish Signup and view all the answers

Match the cephalopod adaptation with its function:

Endocones = Balance buoyancy Beaded calcified siphuncle = Regulate gas exchange Cameral deposits = Adjust weight distribution Coiling = Improve stability or enhance maneuverability Signup and view all the answers

Match the shell shape with its description:

Involute = Tight coiling Evolute = Looser coiling Brevicone = Short, conical shell Planispiral = Favored for speed, stability or defense Signup and view all the answers

Match the shell parameter formula to its effect.

Whorl expansion rate W=(b/a)^2 = Perfect disc(high stability), Stretched out shape(higher speed) Aperture distance from axis D=c/b = Involute(tight coiling), Evolute(looser coiling) Whorl cross-section shape S=e/d = Circular(resists implosion), Elliptical(Lower resistance) S>1 = Elliptical(lower resistance) Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of foraminifera with its shell type:

Planktonic = LMC shells Benthic = HMC/aragonite shells/agglutinated sand grains Reef Foraminifera = Photosynthetic endosymbionts Large Foraminifera = Oligotrophic reefs and carbonate shoal environment Signup and view all the answers

Match the chambered shell solution with its description:

Endocones = Internal deposits in siphuncle could help balance buoyancy Beaded calcified siphuncle = Reinforced siphuncles to help regulate gas exchange Cameral deposits = Mineralized deposits within shell chambers to adjust weight distribution Ascocones = Chambered shell adaptation, potential aiding in buoyancy control Signup and view all the answers

Match the planktonic foraminifera characteristics:

Live in = Water column Shells = LMC shells Size and Life = Small and short-lived Limiting Factor = Temp and salinity Signup and view all the answers

Match the benthic foraminifera characteristics:

Live in = Sediment surface or attached to plants/algae Shells = HMC/aragonite shells/agglutinated sand grains Prefer = Oligotrophic reefs and carbonate shoal environments Contain = Photosynthetic endosymbionts Signup and view all the answers

Match the time period to the events:

Neoproterozoic = Benthos, larger animals, metazoans Cambrian = Demersal + tiering, agronomic substrate revolution, cambrian explosion Ordovician = ordovician biodiversification, macroplanktons, evolutionary trend towards tightly coiled shells start Silurian = Demersal predators, cephalopods Signup and view all the answers

Match the following algae types with their description:

Dinoflagellates = A type of algae Red algae = A type of algae Diatoms = A type of algae Green algae = A type of algae Signup and view all the answers

Match the following benefits to why endosymbionts are helpful to foraminifera:

Energy from photosynthesis = Utilizing sunlight gives an energetic advantage. Photosynthesis promotes calcification = Helps them make larger shells faster. Removal of waste = Symbionts help larger foraminifera with waste removal by taking up waste. Increased mobility = NOT a benefit to using endosymbionts for foraminifera. Signup and view all the answers

Match the type of foraminifera shell wall with its description:

Agglutinated = Takes particles and glue them together. Porcelaneous = Order calcite crystals(porcelain). Hyaline = Crystals are perpendicular to test walls(glassy). Fibrous = NOT a type of foraminifera shell wall Signup and view all the answers

Match the foraminifera group with its time period:

Allogromiida = First to Evolve Texturlariida = Cambrian-Recent Fusulinia = Ordovician-Permian Globigerinida = Jurassic-Recent Signup and view all the answers

Match the foraminifera group with what type of test they have:

Textulariina = Agglutinated Fusulinina = Calcareous Miliolina = Porcelaneous Rotaliina = Hyaline calcite Signup and view all the answers

Match the foraminifera group with its key features

Textulariina = variable shell form and grain size Fusulinina = large(few mm), spindle-shaped Miliolina = distinctive coiling Lagenina = distinctive aperture Signup and view all the answers

Match the foraminifera group with its environmental niche

Fusulinina = shallow illuminated water Globigerinina = Planktonic Allogromiida = No test(bad fossil record) Lagenina = NOT strongly associated with a specific environmental niche. Signup and view all the answers

Match the time period with foraminifera’s test type:

Cambrian-recent = Agglutinated Carboniferous = Calcareous Carboniferous-recent = Porcelaneous Jurassic-recent = Hyaline Signup and view all the answers

Match that term with it’s meaning:

Aperture = The opening in a foraminifera test Hyaline = Crystals are perpendicular to test walls Planktonic: = Forms float near the surface to catch sunlight and food Symbionts = NOT a term with a definition related to foraminifera Signup and view all the answers

Match those group with its key features.

Nummulites = Large orbitoid rotaliina with symbionts(cenozoic) Textularia = Variable shell form and grain size Pyrgo = Miliolina---distinctive coiling Fusulinids = Prominent paleozoic group Signup and view all the answers

Match the following processes of biostratinomy with their descriptions:

Disarticulation = Separation of skeletal elements at joints Abrasion = Wearing down of fossils due to transport Reorientation = Alignment of shells by currents or waves Dissolution = Dissolving of shells in water Signup and view all the answers

Match the descriptions with the types of fossil transportation:

Indigenous = Found in the same environment they lived in Exotic = Transported from a different environment, same time period Reworked = Fossils from older rocks mixed with new sediments None = Fossils not transported Signup and view all the answers

Match the sedimentologic factors with their effects on organisms:

Grain size = Influences type and abundance of organisms Substrate consistency = Affects benthic organisms Turbulence = Favors filter-feeders Turbidity = Harms filter-feeders Signup and view all the answers

Match the metabolic factors with their effects on marine life:

Light = Affects photosynthesis and vision Salinity = Determines species distribution based on salt tolerance Oxygen = Limits species diversity and size when scarce None = Other factors influence marine life Signup and view all the answers

Match the descriptions with the types of substrate consistency:

Hardground = Mobile or sessile epifauna, infauna live in borings Firmground = Mobile or sessile epifauna, infauna in excavated dwellings Softground = Mobile or sessile epifauna, abundant infaunal burrows Soupground = Mobile or absent epifauna, little/no infaunal burrowing Signup and view all the answers

Match the following cephalopod structures with their functions:

Tentacles = Capture prey Eye = Vision Funnel/siphon = Locomotion Siphuncle = Buoyancy control Signup and view all the answers

Match the descriptions with the layers of a molluscan shell:

Organic layer = Outermost, impermeable barrier Prismatic layer = Vertical aragonite crystals Nacreous layer = Thin aragonite and chitin interlayers, very strong None = A layer not part of molluscan shell Signup and view all the answers

Match the descriptions with the external anatomical features of a nautilus shell:

Aperture = Opening where the soft body emerges Peristome = Margin that encircles the aperture Growth line = Represents stages of the cephalopod’s growth None = Not a part of nautilus shell Signup and view all the answers

Match the cephalopod ornamentation types with their function:

Growth lines = Record shell growth Ribs = Disrupt backflow, reducing turbulence Nodes = Enhance predator defense Spines = Enhance predator defense Signup and view all the answers

Match the terms related to cephalopod sutures with their definitions:

Suture line = Pattern where septa meet the shell Saddle = Convex towards aperture Lobe = Convex towards protoconch None = Not a feature of cephalopod sutures Signup and view all the answers

Match the cephalopod subclasses with their key features:

Nautiloidea = Straight siphuncle, cameral deposits common Ammonoidea = Complex suture patterns, important for biostratigraphy Coleoidea = Internal or absent shell, includes squid and octopus None = Not a part of nautilus shell Signup and view all the answers

Match the preservation types with their characteristics in nautiloids:

Outside = Displays external ornamentation Inside = Shows internal septa Steinkern = Preserves shape of internal structures None = Not a form of nautiloid preservation Signup and view all the answers

Match the following orders of nautiloidea with their features:

Tarphyceratoidea = Early coiled cephalopods Endoceroida = Large predators with a large eccentric siphuncle and closely spaced chambers Actinoceratoidea = Commonly cameral or siphuncular deposits Bactridoidea = Orthoconic, ancestral to ammonoidea and coleoidea Signup and view all the answers

Match the cephalopod groups with their biostratigraphic importance:

Ammonites = Useful for dividing the Jurassic period into biostratigraphic zones Belemnites = Useful in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods Orthoceratoids = Used in the Ordovician and Silurian periods Nautiloidea = Not of great importance in biostratigraphy Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Hierarchical Classification

A system organizing life from broad (Domain) to specific (Species).

Taphonomy

The study of changes after an organism dies until it's found as a fossil.