Paleozoic Era Overview Quiz

Carboniferous Period

• Marked by the Cambrian explosion, a significant event in the Paleozoic era
• Characterized by the emergence of reptiles, snakes, lizards, and turtles
• In this period, numerous insects like dragonflies, and cockroaches were common
• Various plants, including herbs and mosses, flourished
• Reptiles laid amniotic eggs which allowed for successful reproduction on land
• Amniotic eggs contained water & the developing embryo, protecting it from environmental hazards

Cambrian Explosion

• A pivotal event at the start of the Paleozoic Era
• The Cambrian Explosion led to the rapid diversification of animal life
• Resulting in a wide variety of strange organisms and significant evolutionary developments
• Included the beginnings of sponge-like plants

Amphibians

• Organisms that live in both water and on land
• Examples include frogs, toads, and salamanders

Paleozoic Era

• Pangea, a supercontinent, formed during this era
• The Permian period occurred in the late Paleozoic Era
• The Permian extinction was a devastating event, wiping out a large segment of life

Mesozoic Era

• Also known as the "Age of Reptiles," even though reptiles were prominent in the Paleozoic era
• The Mesozoic Era saw the appearance of the first mammals
• Mammals possess characteristics such as internal regulation of body temperature, live birth, and milk-feeding
• Humans are mammals
• The Mesozoic Era is associated with dinosaurs
• Archaeopteryx birds appeared in the Jurassic period
• Notable dinosaurs such as brontosauruses, T-Rexes, Stegosauruses, Velociraptors, and Spinosauruses thrived in the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods
• Flowers emerged in the Late Cretaceous period, requiring pollinators like bees

Cenozoic Era

• Known as the "Age of Mammals"
• Deciduous trees shed their leaves
• Continents drifted apart, Earth cooled, and forests thinned during the Paleogene and Neogene eras
• Ice ages occurred, covering significant portions of Earth

Geological Time Scale (Major Events)

• Summarizes significant events in Earth's history, including crucial periods and eras like Precambrian, Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic
• Provides the approximate time in millions of years (M years) ago for each event

Light and Energy on Earth

• Thermal heat from the Sun is a source of energy for Earth
• Increased solar heat results in a warmer atmosphere
• Heat from the Sun warms Earth's surface (oceans, land,air)
• Some heat escapes back into space

Molecular Movement

• Molecules move in three ways
  • Vibration: Rapid back-and-forth movement of Molecules
  • Translation: Movement from one location to another
  • Rotation: Spinning around an axis