10.7 Summary
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10.7 Summary (ESGCZ)
- Scientists use deductive reasoning to understand fossils and the history of life on Earth.
- Geological events often caused changes in climate, which in turn influence the emergence and disappearance of species.
- It takes special circumstances for fossils to form, and fossils can be dated by radiometric or relative dating.
- Climate and geography helped shape the evolution of life on Earth.
- Geological timescales are divided into eons, eras and periods.
- The Cambrian explosion was a rapid explosion in the diversity of life-forms. All animal groups have their origin in the Cambrian explosion.
- During the Paleozoic the first fish, animals with shells and insects evolved and plants first colonised land.
- The Mesozoic was the `age of dinosaurs', later in the era birds evolved, and gymnosperms evolved.
- The Cenozoic is the most recent era and was the `age of mammals'.
- Mass extinctions are massive losses in life, and there have been five mass extinction events in history.
- In the last 4 million years significant changes have occurred in species occurring in Africa, including the evolution of humans.
- Humans have a massive effect on biodiversity and the natural environment and are partially responsible for the '6th mass extinction'.
- South Africa is rich in many fossils from diverse time periods.
- Fossil tourism is a source of income and employment in fossil localities.
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