Quaternary: Cenozoic Era/ Phanerozoic Era

Images

Work Cited

Bagley, By Mary. "Quaternary Period: Climate, Animals & Other Facts." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 05 Feb. 2014. Web. 07 Mar. 2015.

"Grasses." :: Adaptation -- Kids Encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

Four Significant Geological Facts of the Period

Piper, Christina. "What Are the Adaptations of a Pine Tree?" EHow. Demand Media, 16 May 2011. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

Saber-Tooth Cat

Wooly Rhinoceros

Grasses

"Quaternary | Geochronology." Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, n.d. Web. 10 Mar. 2015.

"Quaternary Period, Quaternary Period Information, Prehistoric Facts -- National Geographic." National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Mar. 2015.

• These creatures also had a thick coat of fur to keep warm during the cold, winter climate
• The speed of the Saber-Tooth Cat exceeds limits; they can run very fast to escape from danger

Four Pieces of Evidence Scientists Used to Determine the Past Environment

• Wooly rhinos had thick, heavy coats of fur to keep them warm during the harsh, frigid climate.
• They also had two, sharp horns to protect these mammals from other hungry predators.

• Grasses renew themselves and spread by the scattering of their seeds
• The ripe grass can spread from root-stocks in order to multiply.

• During and between glacial periods, rapid changes in climate and sea level occurred. Environments worldwide were altered. This evidence was used to determine what it was like during this time.

What Brought the Time Period to an End

Pine

Four Plants/Plant-like Organisms

Four Animal/Animal-like Organisms of the Period

• This period has been characterized by several periods of glaciation when ice sheets many kilometers thick have covered vast areas. Scientists could prove more about the conditions that mammals and other living things had to survive in.

• Pines are conifer trees that grew during this time period.
• Mosses are a type of small and flowerless plant with very little roots that sprouted in the Quaternary
• Oaks are trees that sprout acorns as fruit and deciduous leaves. These trees inhabit the lands of this period.
• Grasses are a type of vegetation that consists of short plants with long leaves. Grass grew in most of the areas.

• Pine trees grow pine cones which retain seeds until a fire causes the cones to open. (cone serotiny). This is a key survival trait in the spread of other pine trees.
• Pine trees' needles not only hold water, which limits water loss, but they also keep the snow from accumulating and slows all transpiration.

• Scientist are still uncertain as to why the Quaternary came to an end.
• However, most scientists believe that people/mankind altered life in the water and on land (people are also believed to be the cause of warmer temperatures, thus melting away most of the ice).
• It is possible that global warming has played a role in the end of the ice age.
• Because of the warmer climate, the ice melted which is the reason why the Quaternary period ended for good.

• Wooly mammoths (elephant-like creatures) inhabited the lands during the Quaternary Period. Their thick fur helped them survive in the cold "ice age" temperatures
• Giant bison also were adapted to the cold and lived during this period some million years ago. Their thick fur and strong muscles were very essential in order for these mammals to survive.
• Other carnivorous animals include saber tooth cats, which hunted their prey and had sharp teeth to devour them.
• Also, cave bears hunted certain prey in order to survive in this frigid time period.

• Quaternary period originated in the 19th century, which is when the ice age began. Glaciers and icebergs occupied most of the land.
• In this period, humans roamed the lands.This period was responsible for the rise of modern humans. Humans learned to survive with the sheets of ice and frigid temperatures.
• The Quaternary was one of the best-studied parts of the geologic record.
• In the 1830's, the period was divided into two epochs.

• Genetic variations have driven rapid changes in life-forms. Because of this information, scientists can find out what happened to the life forms that inhabited the frosty areas.

• Glacial climate was applied to the youngest deposits in the Paris Basin. This shows what sort of climate and environment was there in those areas.

Quaternary: Cenozoic Era/ Phanerozoic Eon

1.8 Million Years Ago

BY: Konnor Clarson and Katie Randall