Download Time Scale of the Earth 1. Geologic Time Scale

Time Scale of the Earth
Name: ________________________
Period: __________
Date: _____________
1. Geologic Time Scale:
Accurately plot all Eons, Eras, and Periods with times clearly indicated on
your scaled timeline. Brainstorm the best way to show them
Era
Paleozoic Era
Phanerozoic Eon
Mesozoic Era
Cenozoic Era
Eon
Period
MYA
Major biological events (You do not have to include this
column on your timeline. It is FYI)
Neogene
Today – 23
Paleogene
23 – 65
Cretaceous
65 – 145
Jurassic
145 – 200
Triassic
200 – 251
Permian
251 – 299
Carboniferous
299 – 359
Devonian
359 – 417
Silurian
417 – 443
Ordovician
443 – 488
Cambrian
488 – 543
The beginning of the Neogene is when the first hominids (early humans)
appeared. Modern humans appeared and developed civilization by the
end of this period. Mammoths, sabre-toothed cats, and giant camels
dominated until 10,000 years ago when many large mammals went
extinct.
Rise of the mammals and birds. Rodents, primates, pigs, cats, dogs,
bears and whales appear. Flowering plants spread across the globe.
Dinosaurs continue to dominate the land. Marsupials, modern sharks,
bees and butterflies appear. Flowering plants appear. Period ends with
the mass extinction of the dinosaurs and many plants.
Dinosaurs dominate the land. Mammals are common but small.
Feathered dinosaurs and birds appear. The most common land plants
are ferns, palm-like trees called cycads, and grasses.
The few survivors of the Permian extinction go on to populate the land
and oceans. New species like mammals, dinosaurs and crocodiles
appear.
Amphibians dominate the land. Early cone-bearing plants like pine trees
appear. Period ends with the largest mass extinction known with 95% of
all marine species and 50% of all animals going extinct.
Many swamps on land and sponge reefs in the oceans. Reptiles appear.
Early winged insects and cockroaches appear.
Fish spread across the oceans. Amphibians appear. The first trees and
other plants spread across the land creating the first forests.
Spiders, scorpions, insects, complex plants, and fish with bony jaws
appear. Fish adapt to living in rivers and fresh water for the first time.
First land plants appear. Primitive fungi and sea weed appears. The
oceans are full of corals, mollusks, worms, primitive fish, and
echinoderms like starfish.
A large number of new animal species appear in a relatively short time.
First fish appear. No known life on land yet.
First multi-celled organisms like sponges appear. Earliest complex life
forms are algae from 1.4 billion years ago. Oxygen begins to accumulate
in the atmosphere.
Earliest life on Earth are bacteria from 3.5 billion years ago. Earth is very
different from today. The atmosphere is mostly methane and ammonia.
The continents only just have begun to form.
No known life. The Earth’s crust cools and solidifies. The moon forms.
Proterozoic Eon
543 – 2,500
Archean Eon
2,500 –
3,800
Hadean Eon
3,800 –
4,570
Assembled from the International Commission on Stratigraphy 2004 report A Geologic Time Scale and from information on the University of California Museum of
Paleontology website (http://www.ucmp.org). This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License. To view a copy of this license,
visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.5/ or send a letter to Creative Commons, 559 Nathan Abbott Way, Stanford, California 94305, USA.
Time Scale of the Earth
Name: ________________________
Period: __________
Date: _____________
2. Geologic and Biologic Events:
Accurately place the following Geologic and Biologic Events on your
Geologic Time Scale. Indicate the date and the event on the timeline.
Geologic/Biologic Event
Formation of The Earth
Theia Collides with Earth – Moon Forms
The Earth's Crust Solidifies
Oceans Forming
Earth’s Oldest Rocks
Oldest Evidence of Life -- Prokaryotic Cells (Bacteria)
Oldest Evidence of Photosynthesis – Stromatalites / Cyanobacteria
Clear Evidence of Oxygen Generating Photosynthesis (Atmospheric Oxygen)
Clear Evidence of Eukaryotes -- Unicellular Protists
Oldest Evidence of Colonial Protists (Multicellular)
Oldest Evidence of Multicellular Animals (Sponges)
Oldest Evidence of invertebrates with Shells and Exoskeletons (Mollusks & Arthropods)
Oldest Evidence of Vertebrate (Jawless Fish)
Oldest Evidence of Land Plants
Oldest Evidence of Land Animal -- Millipede
Sharks Appear
Oldest Evidence of Amphibians
Primitive Ferns Appear --First Plants with Roots
First insects
First Reptiles
First Dinosaurs
First Mammals
First Birds
Dinosaurs Are Abundant
Flowering Plants Appear
Early Primates Appear
Oldest Evidence of Stone Tools
Oldest Evidence of Art
Appearance of Modern Humans
Domestication of The Dog
Development of Writing in Sumeria
First Pyramids Built in Egypt
Time mya (bya)
4570 (4.57)
4500 (4.5)
4400-4200 (4.4-4.2)
4200 (4.2)
4000 (4.0)
3500 (3.5)
3400 (3.4)
3000 (3.0)
1800 (1.8)
1000 (1.0)
700 (0.7)
570 (0.57)
500 (0.50)
430 (0.43)
420 (0.42)
375 (0.375)
360 (0.36)
350 (0.35)
350 (0.35)
300 (0.30)
235 (0.235)
220 (0.220)
180 (0.180)
175 (0.175)
140 (0.140)
50 (0.050)
3.4 (0.002)
0.07 (0.00007)
0.05 (0.00005)
0.012 (0.000012)
0.006 (0.000006)
0.0046 (0.0000046)
Assembled from Starr & Taggart, “Biology: The Unity and Diversity of Life. Ninth Edition” 2001, McComas, “Investigating Evolutionary Biology in the
Laboratory” 1994, and from information on the University of California Museum of Paleontology website (http://www.ucmp.org)
Time Scale of the Earth
Name: ________________________
Period: __________
Date: _____________
Analysis and Conclusion
Use your timeline and the internet to answer the following questions.
• Consider visiting http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/help/timeform.php An interactive exhibit from
the University of California Museum of Paleontology
1. What is the Geologic Time Scale?
2. How would you show your understanding of the Geologic Time Scale?
3. Why did scientists develop the time scale in the first place?
4. How did scientists date the events that appear on your timeline?
5. When did dinosaurs appear? How close was our (your) original estimate?
6. How long is a long time?
Time Scale of the Earth
Name: ________________________
Period: __________
Date: _____________
7. What organisms dominated the planet for the longest time?
8. What was the longest Eon? What fraction of Earth’s history does it represent?
9. Which came first:
a. Prokaryotes or Eukaryotes?
b. Single-Celled Organisms or Multi-Celled Organisms?
c. Amphibians or Fish?
d. Reptiles or Birds?
e. Mammals or Primates?
f. Flowering Plants or Ferns?
g. Land Dwelling animals or Ocean Dwelling Animals?
10. What surprised you when you were constructing the timeline?
11. What did you find difficult about constructing the timeline? Be specific and elaborate with details
so I can understand how to help others in the future.