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History of Life On Earth

The document provides an overview of the history of life on Earth, including the development of the geologic time scale used to describe major periods in Earth's history. It discusses how Earth evolved from an initial molten state to developing a solid crust and oceans capable of supporting the first life forms of bacteria. The geologic time scale then divides Earth's history into eons, eras, periods, and epochs based on fossil and radiometric dating evidence. Several major extinction events are also summarized, including the Permian-Triassic extinction where 96% of life perished due to volcanic and climate changes.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
21 views3 pages

History of Life On Earth

The document provides an overview of the history of life on Earth, including the development of the geologic time scale used to describe major periods in Earth's history. It discusses how Earth evolved from an initial molten state to developing a solid crust and oceans capable of supporting the first life forms of bacteria. The geologic time scale then divides Earth's history into eons, eras, periods, and epochs based on fossil and radiometric dating evidence. Several major extinction events are also summarized, including the Permian-Triassic extinction where 96% of life perished due to volcanic and climate changes.

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cabusorapauline5
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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HISTORY OF LIFE ON EARTH

How old is our earth?

The Earth is around 4.5 billion years old. When did the first living organism evolved? The Earth is around 4.5 billion years old.
What was Earth like million years ago? When did the first living organism evolved? By studying the Earth’s geological timeline,
we will be able to trace the processes by which fossils and living organisms have evolved since the time that life started until the
present day.

Earth was initially molten due to extreme volcanism and frequent collisions with other bodies. Eventually, the outer layer of the
planet cooled to form a solid crust when water began accumulating in the atmosphere. The first ever living organism on Earth
was a bacteria known as cyanobacteria.

Scientists know that the face of the earth is changing constantly. Through the ages, land masses have risen and settled below
the seas. Rivers deepened their channels as they carried more and more land to the sea. Climatic conditions have also changed
many times. There have been periods of heavy rains, extremely hot, and periods of drought. Changes are still taking place, but
they happen so slowly that we are not aware of them.

Because living things have undergone evolutionary changes over geologic time, particular kinds of organisms are characteristic
by particular parts of the geologic record.

The relative geologic time scale developed from fossil record has been numerically quantified by means of absolute dates
obtained with radiometric dating.

GEOLOGIC TIME SCALE (GTS)

The Earth’s history is divided into eons, eras, periods and epochs. The geologic time scale is a record of the life forms and
geological events in Earth’s history. Scientists developed the time scale by developing by studying the rock layers and fossils
worldwide. Radioactive dating was used to determine the absolute divisions in the time scale. Is a system of chronological
dating relates geological strata to time.

It is used by geologists, paleontologists, and other earth scientist to describe the timing and relationships of events that have
occurred during earth’s history. The earth carries the history of geological events in its rock layers. It follows that the oldest
layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Geologic Time Record

It is a tabular representation of the major divisions of the Earth’s history. The time intervals are divided and described from the
longest to the shortest as EONS, ERAS, PERIODS and EPOCHS.

Each period has an approximated time frame and characterized by distinctive features (events and organisms).

EON

• the largest intervals of geologic time and are hundreds of millions of years in duration.
• the Geologic time is divided into four large segments called Eons: Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic and
Phanerozoic.
• Phanerozoic Eon is the most recent eon and began more than 500 million years ago.
ERA

• Eons are divided into smaller time intervals known as era. In the time scale, Phanerozoic is divided into three eras:
Cenozoic, Mesozoic, Paleozoic.

Period

• Eras are subdivided into periods. The events that bound the periods are widespread in their extent but are not as
significant as those which bound the eras. Paleozoic is subdivided into the Permian, Pennsylvanian, Mississippian,
Devonian, Silurian, Ordovician and Cambrian periods.
Epoch

• Finer subdivision of time are possible, and the periods of the Cenozoic are frequently subdivided into epochs. Subdivision
of periods into epochs can be done only for the most recent portion of the geologic time scale. This is because older
rocks have been buried deeply, intensely deformed and severely modified by long-term earth processes.

EXTINCTION

• It is use to refer to organisms that are no longer existing.

• Fossil- remnant or impression of an organism that lived from a past geologic age that has been preserved on Earth’s
crust.

• Evolution- A process where organisms change over time.

• Based on studies conducted by scientists using the fossils of ancient organisms, 99% of organisms that ever lived has
gone extinct.

Some famous mass extinction events

Ordovician-Silurian extinction

Scientist theorize that there were two main phases to this extinction; a glaciation event and a heating event. Abundant plant life
removed carbon-dioxide (CO2) from the air, causing global cooling and glacier formation. This led to a drop in sea levels, reducing
habitat . Later came global warming and and sea level rising again. Creatures that had adapted to the cooler climate were unable
to survive the increased temperature . Since most fauna was marine at the time, 86% of life was lost.

DEVONIAN EXTINCTION

About 75% of life died off during this period. One theory suggests that land plants developed deep roots, releasing an abundance
of nutrients into the oceans that led fed algae. Because of this, algae blooms consumed vast amounts of oxygen(02) in the ocean
, suffocating many species. Another theory suggests that another global cooling took place, resulting in glaciation and a fall in
sea level, leading to habitat loss.

PERMIAN-TRIASSIC EXTINCTION

The largest extinction event that happened in history which occurred 250 million years ago where 96% of all life forms perished.
Due to its massive extinction, it is sometimes called “The Great Dying”

Scientist believe that volcanic activity in Siberia put a massive amounts of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, into the atmosphere.
Bacteria that thrive on CO2, began producing methane, another greenhouse gas. Large quantities of both gases warmed the
planet and combined with Earth’s water, making the ocean and rain acidic , creating a highly toxic environment for life.

TRIASSIC-JURASSIC EXTINCTION

This extinction event killed about 80 % of the world species which includes many large reptiles, amphibians and mammal like
organisms 200 million years ago. The extinction was caused by massive floods of lava that occurred from Atlantic magmatic
province. Other scientists contend that an asteroid or comet impact triggered the extinction.

CRETACEOUS-TERTIARY EXTINCTION

Also known as K-T extinction which occurred 65 million years ago.One of the most famous extinction events due to the dying of
dinosaurs.The extinction was believed to be caused by the asteroid impact and massive volcanism. The impact would have
ejected enormous amounts of debris to the atmosphere causing global temperature to drop. The impact may have also caused
local fires, earthquakes, and acid rain.

SIXTH MASS EXTINCTION


This extinction is driven by human activities such as pollution, overexploitation and deforestation. The extinction is believed to
have started way back 13000 years ago. Organisms that have recently gone extinct are considered to be part of the sixth mass
extinction.

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