Features Favorable for Fossilization

Sample exercise investigating the influence of structure on the fossil record

 

Here is a sample food chain from a wooded area.

 

Structure analysis of the organisms in this food chain:

Organism

Fossilization potential (high or low), What gets fossilized

Raccoon

High, teeth and bones

Worm

Low, no hard parts

Clover

Low, no hard parts

Robin

Low, mostly feathers, small bones

Groundhog

High.

Alder

Low, no hard parts

Mosquitoe

Low, tiny, no hard parts

White-tailed deer

High, large size, bones make up large % of body mass

 

Conclusions: The fossil record if these organisms had equal potential of fossilization in other characteristics would most likely include parts of the

raccoon, groundhog, and white-tailed deer.

 

 

 

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