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Geological Time Research Project

veronica osorio

Created on September 23, 2024

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Transcript

Paleozoic Era

Cambrian Explosion

The Cambrian explosion occurred around 530 million years ago during the Paleozoic Era, it was an evolutionary event with rapid growth in complexity and biodiversity. There are many theories that this event was due to an increase in oxygen levels. This would've promoted diversification and the emrgence of predators. Although it was not a real “explosion” it was a period where many marine animals evolved most of the basic body parts seen today. These animals consisted of crustaceans, starfish, worms, etc.

541-252 MILLION YEARS AGO
Paleozoic Fun Facts!

Organisms and Lifeforms

  • The Appalachian mountains formed during the Paleozoic Era due to uplifting, weathering, and collisions.
  • The word Paleozoic means "ancient life"
  • The supercontinent Pannotia broke apart and eventually created the supercontinent Pangea during this era.
  • The late Paleozoic Era Ice Age was one of the few periods that contained ice caps

Life was primitive during the Paleozoic Era, including many invertebrates (animals without backbones). Not to mention the earliest fish and amphibians. Fossils found in China helped us understand that early organisms living throughout the Paleozoic Era representing echinoderms eventually evolved into the starfish and sand dollars we know today. Trilobites and crinoids were also still apparent throughout this time. (click the button for more info about trilobites)

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Climate Throughout This Era

The Paleozoic Era is divided into 5 periods. The Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, and the Carboniferous Periods. Throughout these periods the climate fluctuated.

  • Cambrian: the climate was warm and moderate.
  • Ordovician: the climate was warm and moist, cooling off towards the end of the period.
  • Silurian: warm and stable, ice caps from the Ordovician period melted.
  • Devonian: lots of carbon dioxide, with a “greenhouse” like atmosphere, making it very warm.
  • Carboniferous: more uniform, tropical, and humid climate than today.

References: - Erwin, Douglas H, and James W Valentine. The Cambrian Explosion : The Construction of Animal Biodiversity. Greenwood Village, Colorado - Secher, Andy. Travels with Trilobites: Adventures in the Paleozoic. 1st ed., Columbia University Press -

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