Transcript Lecture PowerPoint

The Fossil Record: Evidence for
Evolution
Microraptor
Frozen woolly
mammoths
from Siberia
woolly rhino painting
in Chauvet cave
brontotheres
Komodo dragons
T. rex
Xiphactinus
Coelophysis
coprolite = fossil poop
regurgitalite =
fossil vomit
Mei long
nesting
oviraptorosaur
pterosaur
vertebrae
spinosaur
tooth
Edmontosaurus with bitten and healed tail
Growth rings in Tyrannosaurus leg bone
Psittacosaurus
“parrot lizard”
Psittacosaurus
“parrot lizard”
Creche behavior
in penguins…
…and in
Psittacosaurus
Repennomamus,
the dinosaur-eating mammal
Series of fossils
Caudipteryx
Dilong
Microraptor
Archaeopteryx
Problematic origins: successes
limbs
birds
snakes
whales
Problematic origins: successes
limbs
birds
snakes
whales
…still waiting…
turtles
pterosaurs
bats
Fossilization and Taphonomy
What is lost
and
what remains?
T. Rex blood vessels
and red blood cells
Scanning electron
micrographs of
T. Rex blood vessels
and cells
Bone cell
Blown vessel
with red blood
cells
Preservation
In most cases, the key to preservation is…
…rapid burial!
Erosional environment
Depositional environment
Plateosaurus
Einiosaurus
Preservation potential:
excellent
Preservation potential:
terrible
Problematic origins: successes
limbs
birds
snakes
whales
…still waiting…
turtles
pterosaurs
bats
Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)
Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)
Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)
Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)
Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)
Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)
Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”)
The discovery of deep time
• Geologic succession of lifeforms
• Evolution
• Absolute age of the Earth
The discovery of deep time
• 1700s – Geologic succession of lifeforms
– Relative dating: superposition and faunal
correlation (Wolf Creek)
• 1800s – Evolution
– Change through time by natural causes
• 1900s – Absolute age of the Earth
– Radiometric dating
Darwin’s Five Theories
(according to Ernst Mayr)
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Evolution as such
Common descent
Multiplication of species; adaptation
Gradualism (versus macromutation)
Natural selection
Darwin’s Five Theories
(according to Ernst Mayr)
Supported by
fossil evidence?
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Evolution as such
Common descent
Multiplication of species; adaptation
Gradualism (versus macromutation)
Natural selection
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Background Extinction and Mass Extinctions
North America in the
Late Cretaceous, 75 MYA