Term
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Definition
The principle that a natural pattern we see (a canyon) is
the result of the long-term historical action of a process we
can see today (erosion) is called uniformitarianism. |
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Term
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Definition
To date material, we must know the concentration of the
"parent" radioisotope atoms when the material formed. You can do this by comparing ratios of isotopes. |
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Term
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Definition
| Isotopes have different numbers of neutrons, so they have the same chemistry, but different mass. 14C and 12C are both carbon but 14C weighs more, with two extra neutrons. Isotopes are biochemically equivalent except when atomic mass is important, such as in physical processes like diffusion. |
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Term
Cenezoic Era
Tertiary Period - 65 mya - 1.8 mya
Quarternary Period - 1.8 mya - today |
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Definition
Mammals fill ecological niches once occupied by dinosaurs; flowering plants dominate except for cool regions; one group of plants form symbiotic associations with N-fixing bacteria
Tertiary Period (65 mya — 1.8 mya)
Bering land bridge forms between Siberia and Alaska; mammals colonize North America
Quarternary Period (1.8 mya - today)
Four major and 20 minor ice ages; glaciers repeatedly push animal and plant "refugia" towards the equator; Humans migrate over the world, hunting animals to extinction |
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Term
Mesozoic Era:
-Cretaceous
-Jurassic
-Triassic |
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Definition
RAWR! (dinosaurs)
Triassic: Hot and dry climate, Pangaea drifts apart
Jurassic: Warm climate
Cretaceous: meteorite strikes Yucatan Peninsula; MASS EXTINCTION(K-T) |
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Term
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Definition
4.5 bya: Earth comes into existence
3.8 bya: Prokaryotes evolve
1.5 bya oxygen level >1%
1 bya Eukaryotes evolve
600 mya oxygen >5%
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Term
| Oxidative Phosphorylation |
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Definition
| Process where water molecules are split, and oxygen is released; cyanobacteria evolved the ability to do this; they are fossilized in stromatolites |
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Term
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Definition
| A species that recolonizes previously glaciated areas, i.e. lodgepole pine. |
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Term
Paleozoic Era
542 mya - 251 mya |
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Definition
Cambrian - Cambrian Explosion
Ordovician - Gondwana Glaciation at end; 75% animal extinction
Silurian - First vascular plants and arthropods on land
Devonian - Vertebrate diversification, jawed fish;Terrestrial amphibians; meteor at end, 75% marine species extinct
Carboniferous - Enormous tropical swamp fern forests(later coal deposits); first flying insects; first amniotic(egg laying) vertebrates
Permian - Pangaea forms; mass extinction due to volcanoes; oxygen drops by 2/3, biggest extinction in earth's history |
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