Professor Nick Cutter (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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fandomhigh2025-03-19 07:28 pm
itsananomaly) wrote in fandomhigh2025-03-19 07:28 pm
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Introduction to Paleontology - Period 1
“Good Morning,” Cutter began that week’s class, as he held onto his usual cup of coffee, “this week we’re going to be looking at the Precambrian ecoystems and the Cambrian Explosion,” he explained, “The Precambrian is the earliest part of Earth’s history, set before the current Phanerozoic Eon, the Precambrian is so named because it preceded the Cambrian, the first period of the Phanerozoic Eon, which is named after Cambria, the latinized name for Wales, where rocks form this age were first studied. The Precambrian accounts for 88% of the Earth's geologic time and it is divided into three eons, Hadean, Archeon and Proterozoic . It spans from the formation of Earth about 4.6 billion years ago to the beginning of the Cambrian Period, about 538.8 million years ago, when hard-shelled creatures first appeared in abundance.”
“Relatively little is known about the Precambrian, despite it making up roughly seven-eighths of the Earth’s history,” Cutter continued, “and what is known has largely been Phanerozoic discovered from the 1960s onwards. The Precambrian fossil record is poorer than that of the succeeding Phanerozoic and fossils from the Precambrian are of limited biostratigraphic use. This is because many Precambrian rocks have been heavily metamorphosed, obscuring their origins, while others have been destroyed by erosion, or remain deeply buried beneath Phanerozoic strata,” he finished, smiling over at Connor for him to continue the lecture.
Connor nodded and continued the class. “The Cambrian explosion was a period of rapid diversification of life on Earth, where most major animal phyla first appeared in the fossil record. The Cambrian explosion occurred at the beginning of the Cambrian period, a geological period in the early Paleozoic era. This period witnessed a sudden and dramatic increase in the diversity of life forms, particularly in the oceans. Many of the major animal phyla that we see today, including vertebrates, arthropods, mollusks, and other common diversification types, emerged during this time. The Cambrian explosion is considered a pivotal moment in the history of life on Earth, as it marked the emergence of complex, multicellular organisms and the beginnings of the animal kingdom as we know it. The fossil record from this period reveals a vast array of unusual and diverse marine organisms, some of which are extinct, providing insights into the early evolution of animal life.”
Connor took a drink from his coffee mug and then continued. “While the exact causes of the Cambrian explosion are still debated, some theories include the following… Increased Oxygen Levels: Some scientists believe that rising oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans allowed for the evolution of larger, more complex organisms. Ecosystem Changes: Changes in the Earth's environment, such as the availability of resources and the formation of new habitats, may have also played a role. Evolutionary Innovation: The emergence of new genetic mechanisms or developmental pathways could have facilitated the rapid diversification of life.” With a small nod to Cutter, he handed the lecture back over with a small grin.
“For the rest of the class I’d like you to go over yourmoddable worksheets,” Cutter continued, “and as always myself and Mr. Temple are available for any questions that you may have,”
“Relatively little is known about the Precambrian, despite it making up roughly seven-eighths of the Earth’s history,” Cutter continued, “and what is known has largely been Phanerozoic discovered from the 1960s onwards. The Precambrian fossil record is poorer than that of the succeeding Phanerozoic and fossils from the Precambrian are of limited biostratigraphic use. This is because many Precambrian rocks have been heavily metamorphosed, obscuring their origins, while others have been destroyed by erosion, or remain deeply buried beneath Phanerozoic strata,” he finished, smiling over at Connor for him to continue the lecture.
Connor nodded and continued the class. “The Cambrian explosion was a period of rapid diversification of life on Earth, where most major animal phyla first appeared in the fossil record. The Cambrian explosion occurred at the beginning of the Cambrian period, a geological period in the early Paleozoic era. This period witnessed a sudden and dramatic increase in the diversity of life forms, particularly in the oceans. Many of the major animal phyla that we see today, including vertebrates, arthropods, mollusks, and other common diversification types, emerged during this time. The Cambrian explosion is considered a pivotal moment in the history of life on Earth, as it marked the emergence of complex, multicellular organisms and the beginnings of the animal kingdom as we know it. The fossil record from this period reveals a vast array of unusual and diverse marine organisms, some of which are extinct, providing insights into the early evolution of animal life.”
Connor took a drink from his coffee mug and then continued. “While the exact causes of the Cambrian explosion are still debated, some theories include the following… Increased Oxygen Levels: Some scientists believe that rising oxygen levels in the atmosphere and oceans allowed for the evolution of larger, more complex organisms. Ecosystem Changes: Changes in the Earth's environment, such as the availability of resources and the formation of new habitats, may have also played a role. Evolutionary Innovation: The emergence of new genetic mechanisms or developmental pathways could have facilitated the rapid diversification of life.” With a small nod to Cutter, he handed the lecture back over with a small grin.
“For the rest of the class I’d like you to go over your
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