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The Fossil Record: Evidence for Evolution Microraptor Frozen woolly mammoths from Siberia woolly rhino painting in Chauvet cave brontotheres Komodo dragons T. rex Xiphactinus Coelophysis coprolite = fossil poop regurgitalite = fossil vomit Mei long nesting oviraptorosaur pterosaur vertebrae spinosaur tooth Edmontosaurus with bitten and healed tail Growth rings in Tyrannosaurus leg bone Psittacosaurus “parrot lizard” Psittacosaurus “parrot lizard” Creche behavior in penguins… …and in Psittacosaurus Repennomamus, the dinosaur-eating mammal Series of fossils Caudipteryx Dilong Microraptor Archaeopteryx Problematic origins: successes limbs birds snakes whales Problematic origins: successes limbs birds snakes whales …still waiting… turtles pterosaurs bats Fossilization and Taphonomy What is lost and what remains? T. Rex blood vessels and red blood cells Scanning electron micrographs of T. Rex blood vessels and cells Bone cell Blown vessel with red blood cells Preservation In most cases, the key to preservation is… …rapid burial! Erosional environment Depositional environment Plateosaurus Einiosaurus Preservation potential: excellent Preservation potential: terrible Problematic origins: successes limbs birds snakes whales …still waiting… turtles pterosaurs bats Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”) Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”) Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”) Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”) Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”) Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”) Choristoderes (“champsosaurs”) The discovery of deep time • Geologic succession of lifeforms • Evolution • Absolute age of the Earth The discovery of deep time • 1700s – Geologic succession of lifeforms – Relative dating: superposition and faunal correlation (Wolf Creek) • 1800s – Evolution – Change through time by natural causes • 1900s – Absolute age of the Earth – Radiometric dating Darwin’s Five Theories (according to Ernst Mayr) • • • • • Evolution as such Common descent Multiplication of species; adaptation Gradualism (versus macromutation) Natural selection Darwin’s Five Theories (according to Ernst Mayr) Supported by fossil evidence? • • • • • Evolution as such Common descent Multiplication of species; adaptation Gradualism (versus macromutation) Natural selection Yes Yes Yes Yes No Background Extinction and Mass Extinctions North America in the Late Cretaceous, 75 MYA