Fossil Evidence Graphing Name: _____________________
Period: ____
Read the following material and:
a). Examine the data,
b). Line graph the data on the back, and
c). Answer the questions that follow.
An area of sedimentary rock was being examined for fossils. The area was once believed to be inhabited by many forms of life. Geologists believed the area was between 100 million and 150 million years old. Below find a chart containing the data based on their findings. The layers are recorded from the top most to the lowest. The uppermost layer is the youngest of the layers based on geologic time.
|
Depth
of the layer in meters. |
Number
of clam fossils |
Number
of fish fossils |
Number
of insect fossils |
|
1.5 |
3 |
2 |
27 |
|
3 |
15 |
12 |
9 |
|
3.5 |
30 |
35 |
3 |
|
5 |
4 |
34 |
3 |
|
7 |
1 |
50 |
0 |
Discussion Questions
1. What is the independent variable? __________________________________________.
2. What is the dependent variable? ___________________________________________.
3. At what level would we expect to find the least insects? __________________________.
4. What type of environment would you think was present at 1.5 meters? _______________________________________________________________________.
5. What evidence do you have to suggest your answer to the above question? _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
6. What is the average number of fossils found at 5 meters? _____________.
7. What type of absolute dating technique, Carbon 14 or Potassium- Argon, would be best to date the above fossils? Explain your answer. ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Graph Title: ___________________________________________________________
