Introducing 

Prezi AI.

Your new presentation assistant.

Refine, enhance, and tailor your content, source relevant images, and edit visuals quicker than ever before.

Loading…
Transcript

The Silurian Period

By: Gracie Baggett, Katie Paulson, Rodrigo Huerta, Emerson Gonzalez

Introduction to the Silurian Period

Animals & Plants

The Silurian Period, a period of time in the Paleozoic Era, happened almost 438 million years ago. The Silurian Period lasted for 30 million years. This period followed the Ordovician Period and preceded the Devonian Period. Low landmasses dominated the land and sea levels began to rise.

Shallow waters at this time allowed sunlight to reach the ocean floor, leading to rapid growth of life forms.

  • Animals
  • At the start, brachiopods(lamp shells), crinoids(sea lillies), bryozoans(mosses), and nautiloids(mollusks) dominated the ocean.
  • This period is known for the rise of jawless fish
  • At this time the apex predator was the Eurypterids.
  • This animal is relateable to modern horseshoe crabs.
  • This animal is sometimes called the "sea scorpion".
  • Plants
  • The sunlight led to the first coral reefs.
  • Live Science says, "Lichens were probably the first photosynthetic organisms to cling to the rocky coasts of the early continents."
  • Later, the decaying lichens would form the first soil.
  • First Vascular Plants showed up

Climate

Summary

  • The climate at this time was mild, but getting warmer.
  • The Ordivician Period was covered with glaciers and had a cold climate. The melting of these glaciers during the Silurian Period is what led to the rise of the sea level.
  • The mild climate would later lead to the formation of salt deposites near the equator.
  • The Silurian Period followed the Ordovician Period in the Paleozoic Era and has four epochs.
  • This period occurred about 438-408 million years ago.
  • During this period, brachiopods, crinoids, bryozoans, and nautiloids were the most abundant animals.
  • The first plants formed on land. (Includes the first vascular tissue plant, the Cooksonia.)
  • Euramerica formed from the collision of Laurentia, Baltica, and Avalonia.
  • In this process mountains formed, including the Appalachian Mountains.
  • 3 mass extinctions marked the end.

Bibliography

  • Sarah. "Silurian Concepts." Silurian Concepts. N.p.,
  • Bagley, Mary. "Silurian Period Facts: Climate, Animals & Plants." LiveScience. TechMedia Network,
  • "Eurypterid." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.
  • "Images For Silurian Period Plants." Images For Silurian Period Plants. N.p., n.d.
  • Holland, Steven M. "Ordovician-Silurian Extinction." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d.
  • Science, Cambrian. "Welcome to the Silurian." Youtube. N.p., n.d. Web.
  • "Life of the Silurian." Life of the Silurian. N.p., n.d. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/silurian/silulife.html>.
  • "Crinoid." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, n.d.
  • "The Silurian Period: Plants Move Onto Land." Fossils Facts and Finds.com. N.p., n.d 2015.
  • "Silurian : Geology and Climate." Silurian : Geology and Climate. N.p., n.d. 2015.
  • "The Silurian Period." The Silurian Period. N.p., n.d 2015. <http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/silurian/silurian.php>.

Fossils

Beginning and End

Began: Ordovician had extinctions, Silurian was recovery

End: Last 3 mass extinctions marked the end

  • The fossils during this time period mainly consisted graptolites, conodonts, acritarchs, bryozoans, brachiopods, trilobites, corals, and nautiloids.
  • These fossils show how the coral reefs grew rapidly and also show that new lifeforms were appearing and moving to land.

Trilobite

Extinctions

Time Travel?

  • During the Ordovician-Silurian extinction about 80% of the marine species were wiped out.
  • Brachiopods
  • Bryozoans
  • Acritarchs

If one were to travel to the Silurian Peirod, they would need everything to be waterproof. Living on the seas would be the only viable option, since the land had no life. We need to prepare for massive floods, and sea sickness. The dangers wouldnt be the animals, they'd be the Seas.

Geologic Events

  • Trilobites
  • Conodonts
  • Mountains occurred Euramerica forming.
  • Euramerica was formed by the colliding of Laurentia, Baltica, and Avalonia.
  • Ice sheets at the beginning, but melted in the middle.
  • Sea levels rose.
Learn more about creating dynamic, engaging presentations with Prezi