Name:
Date:
Biology 11: Fossils!
Purpose:
To explore the different ways that organisms can become fossils.
To explore evidence for the history and evolution of life on Earth
Part A: How Are Organisms Fossilized?
1. What is a fossil? (1 Mark)
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2. Why aren’t all organisms turned into fossils when they die? (3 Marks)
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3. For each of the images below, identify the type of fossilization and research how it occurred.
*Use the Fossil Formation: Berkley link from the weebly to help you:
a) Trace Fossil
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b) Original Remains
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c) Cast Fossil
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d) Permineralization
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Part B: Burgess Shale
-Watch the first seven minutes of the First Life video narrated by
David Attenborough and consult the resources around the lab and
available at the Burgess Shale Website to answer the following
questions. Both links available on the weebly.
1. How long ago did these fossils exist as living organisms? What
is this time period called? (2 Marks)
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2. How was the Burgess Shale discovered?
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3. Where is the Burgess Shale found?
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4. What is so special about the kinds of fossils found at the Burgess Shale?
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5. What are Arthropods and what adaptations did they possess which has allowed them to be so
successful?
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6. What Burgess Shale fossil organism do you find the most interesting? Why?
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7. Sketch the organism you identified above and provide information about its size.
8. Do you think the Burgess Shale should be a World Heritage Site? Why or why not?
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Part C: Fossil Analysis
-Observe the various fossil samples in the lab. Describe five in the sample below and use a Geologic
Time Scale to determine when it evolved.
*For this activity you can use a hand lens, dissecting microscope and ruler.
1.
Name: _____________________________________________
Time Period: ________________________________________
Approximate Size: ___________________________________
What is it? __________________________________________
Is it extinct? _________________________________________
Material Preserved In: _________________________________
2.
Name: _____________________________________________
Time Period: ________________________________________
Approximate Size: ___________________________________
What is it? __________________________________________
Is it extinct? _________________________________________
Material Preserved In: _________________________________
3.
Name: _____________________________________________
Time Period: ________________________________________
Approximate Size: ___________________________________
What is it? __________________________________________
Is it extinct? _________________________________________
Material Preserved In: _________________________________
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4.
Name: _____________________________________________
Time Period: ________________________________________
Approximate Size: ___________________________________
What is it? __________________________________________
Is it extinct? _________________________________________
Material Preserved In: _________________________________
5.
Name: _____________________________________________
Time Period: ________________________________________
Approximate Size: ___________________________________
What is it? __________________________________________
Is it extinct? _________________________________________
Material Preserved In: _________________________________
Part D: Living Fossils
-Some organisms that exist today have changed so little over millions of years that they can be thought of
as living fossils. Once such example are Stromatolites.
1. Read the articles on Stromalites found on the weebly and use the information there to answer the
following:
a) What are Stromatolites?
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b) Where are Stromatolites found?
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c) Why were Stromatolites so important to the evolution of life on Earth?
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2. Conduct your own research to discover another example of a living fossil. Describe this organism and
what makes it so interesting/important.
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