10 Questions
What is the time span of the Mesozoic Era?
252-66 million years ago
Which period marks the appearance of marine invertebrates after the Permian mass extinction?
Triassic
What are important index fossils for the Triassic and Jurassic Periods?
Ammonites and belemnites
What type of organisms form the base of the food web in the Mesozoic Era?
Microscopic photosynthetic organisms and amoeba
What type of plants dominated the Mesozoic forests?
Seedless vascular plants and gymnosperms
During the Triassic and Jurassic periods, which continents were joined and then separated?
Antarctica and Australia; South America and Africa
What geological event marked the beginning of mountain building in the western portion of North America?
Sonoma Orogeny
What characterized the Triassic period in North America in terms of sea level?
Overall sea level fall with much of the continental interior above sea level
Which formations are associated with famous terrestrial sedimentary rock sequences on the continental interior of North America?
Chinle Formation, Navajo Formation, Morrison Formation
What type of sediments formed in the rift basins between continents as ocean water filled these basins?
Thick sequences of evaporite sediments
Study Notes
Mesozoic Era
- The Mesozoic Era spans from 252 million to 66 million years ago.
Triassic Period
- The Triassic Period marks the appearance of marine invertebrates after the Permian mass extinction.
- Important index fossils for the Triassic Period include conodonts, ammonites, and phytosaurs.
- During the Triassic Period, the supercontinent Pangaea began to break apart, and the continents were joined and then separated.
- Sea level was high in North America during the Triassic Period, resulting in a flooded continental interior.
- The famous Chinle and Newark Formations are associated with terrestrial sedimentary rock sequences on the continental interior of North America.
Jurassic Period
- Important index fossils for the Jurassic Period include ammonites, belemnites, and dinosaur fossils.
- During the Jurassic Period, the supercontinent Pangaea continued to break apart, and the continents were further separated.
Ecosystem
- Phytoplankton and zooplankton form the base of the food web in the Mesozoic Era.
- Conifers, cycads, and ferns dominated the Mesozoic forests.
Geological Events
- The Sevier orogeny marked the beginning of mountain building in the western portion of North America.
- As ocean water filled the rift basins between continents, shallow marine and terrestrial sediments formed, including evaporites, carbonates, and clastics.
Test your knowledge of the Mesozoic Era with this quiz! Explore the appearance, diversification, and extinction of dinosaurs, as well as the marine life and invertebrates that thrived during this fascinating period. Delve into the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods and challenge yourself with questions about this pivotal era in Earth's history.
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