Fossils

Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from hundreds or thousands years ago. Fossils are both discovered and undiscovered, and their placement in fossiliferous rock formations and sedimentary layers or strata is known as the fossil record.


The study of fossils across geological time, how they were formed, and the evolutionary relationships between taxa phylogeny are some of the most important functions of the science of paleontology. A  preserved specimen is called a "fossil" if it is older than some minimum age, most often the arbitrary date of 10,000 years.   Fossils range in age from the youngest at the start of the Holocene Epoch to the oldest from the Archaean Eon, up to 3.48 billion years old.  The observation that certain fossils were associated with certain rock strata led early geologists to recognize a geological timescale in the 19th century. The development of radiometric dating techniques in the early 20th century allowed geologists to determine the numerical or "absolute" age of the various strata and thereby the included fossils.
Like extant organisms, fossils vary in size from microscopic, even single bacterial cells one micrometer in diameter, to gigantic, such as dinosaurs and trees many meters long and weighing many tons. A fossil normally preserves only a portion of the deceased organism, usually that portion that was partially mineralized during life, such as the bones and teeth of vertebrates, or the chitinous or calcareous exoskeletons of invertebrates. Fossils may also consist of the marks left behind by the organism while it was alive, such as animal tracks or feces otherwise known as coprolites. These types of fossil are called trace fossils or ichnofossils, as opposed to body fossils.


Finally, past life leaves some markers that cannot be seen but can be detected in the form of biochemical signals; these are known as chemofossils or biomarkers.

Arboretum museum trip

The University Arboretum is the arboretum and botanic garden of the California State University, Sacramento at 6000 J Street, Sacramento, California, at J Street and Carlson Drive.


Founded in 1945 on what used to be a pear orchard and hop ranch the arboretum was originally named the Charles M. Goethe Arboretum in honor of Charles Goethe (1875–1966, pronounced "geh-teh"), a land developer, philanthropist, conservationist, eugenicist, and one of the university's founding fathers. "The name was changed without fanfare to University Arboretum in 2005" because of renewed attention to Goethe's virulently racist views, praise of Nazi Germany, and advocacy of eugenics.
 The arboretum is open daily from dawn to dusk and has some 1200 trees. Of particular interest is a wide-ranging conifer collection as well as several rare plants, including Taiwania and the "living fossil" Wollemia. The arboretum has a "Jurassic Park" section with flowering plants species dating back to the age of dinosaurs and another section for California native plants, with some 50 different species represented.
Mike Baad, a retired professor who volunteered at the arboretum since he joined the university in 1969, is the University Arboretum's longtime director

Competition

Competition is the relationship between members of the same or different species in which individuals are adversely affected by those having the same living requirements, such as food or space. Intraspecific competition.  Competition among members of the same species, is illustrated by some species of birds and mammals, the males of which set up territories from which all other males of the same species are excluded. In interspecific competition members of different species compete for the same ecologically limiting factors, such as a food source. Not all relationships among organisms are competitive; for example, the commensal relationship between members of different species is noncompetitive.

One example is two insects can survive on one rare flower. The two insects are going to fight for the rare flower to survive. Another example is how hyena often go to a lion's kill to get food while the lion pride is still there. The lions and hyenas might fight over the kill.

About Me

    My name is Robert Mena.  I was born in Pasadena, California and I am 14 years old.  I am currently in the 9th grade at Alhambra High School.  My interests for the past 9 years has been video games, however, I have found a new passion.  My new passion is running.  My family and I have done several short marathons and other outdoor activities in the last few years, and that is where I realized that I loved the sport.  That is why I have decided to join the schools Track and Cross Country Team.  I'm training hard to be a competitive runner and focusing on maintaining good grades.  Aside from video games and running, I enjoy spending time with my uncles.  They're both a positive influence and support me.  With my family's help I know I will succeed in Track and Cross Country.

Evolution of a Tadpole

In evolution each feature requires a very specific suite of genes in its production and operation.
An invertebrate, like a jellyfish, a clam, or a worm, does not have the genes necessary to construct a vertebrae, or all the other muscles, nerves, and organs needed by animals with a backbone, including fish.


A functioning fish does not possess the genes necessary to construct and utilize legs.  Tadpoles, which live in the water and have no legs, change into land-dwelling frogs with legs.


Tadpoles are not fish. They may look like a guppy, but they are the offspring of fully functioning frogs, complete with all the genes for legs and the structures needed to use them. The tadpole is not yet fully grown, and in the incomplete stage has not acquired all the features present in the adult, but it is a juvenile frog
.
However, it does have all the genes needed for life in the water, as well as those genes needed to grow legs at the right time, then live on land, and eventually produce tadpoles which themselves become frogs. No new genetic information must be acquired by mutation as required by evolution. They are already present.


This could be said about a human fetus in its early stages. At one point it has no arms or legs (or eyes or lungs etc.) but it acquires them through genetically controlled growth. No evolutionary process is needed to transform a fertilized human embryo into a baby and then into an adult. All the genes are present at the start.


Neither growth nor metamorphosis are evolution.

Evolution 101 Webquest

What are the mechanisms of evolution?


Descent and the genetic differences that are heritable and passed onto the next generation.  Mutation, migration (gene flow), genetic drift, and natural selection as mechanisms of change.  The importance of genetic variation.  The random nature of genetic drift and the effects of a reduction in genetic variation.  How variation differential reproduction and heredity result in evolution by natural selection.  How different species can effect each others evolution through co evolution.


What are 4 different types of species concepts?


organisms may appear to be alike and be different species.  Organisms may look different and yet be the same species.  Ring species have species with a geographic distribution that forms a ring and warps at the end.


What are four modes of speciation?  Describe and give an example.


The four modes of speciation are called Allopatric, Periatric, Parapatric, and Sympatric.  The allopatric speciation is that of Charles Darwin's Galapagos Finches.  The Periatric speciation is walking or traveling about .  The Sympatric speciation is when a new species arise.


What are some basic patterns in macro evolution?


Many lineages on the tree of life exhibit stasis, which just mean that they don't change much for a long time.  Lineages can change quickly or slowly.  Characters change can happen in a single direction, such as evolving additional segments, or it may nurse itself by gaining and losing segments.


What is homology?  An analogy?  Give examples.


A homology is the quality or condition of being homologous.  No, it is not an analogy.


What are the three evidences of how we know what happened when?


At the neck of evolution theory is the basic idea that life has existed for billions of years and has changed over time.  Overwhelming evidence supports this fact.  Scientist continue to argue about details of evolution, but he question of whether life has a long history or not has answered in the affirmative at least two centuries ago.


What is an evolutionary trend?


An evolutionary trend is a general direction of evolutionary change.


What are the big trends in evolution are entropy, entropy, energy intensiveness, evolutionary versatility, developmental depth, structural depth, adeptness, size and complexity.
What are the big trends in evolution?
The big trends in evolution are entropy, energy intensiveness; evolutionary versatility, developmental depth, structural depth, adoptedness, size and complexity.
Human Evolution
What are the four types of skulls?  What are at least 3 characteristics of each?
Mystery Skull-  From Europe where both Homo heidelbergensis and Homo heidelbergensis  have been found, their skulls have similar shapes, but each species have unique skull features.  To identify the mystery skull, compare it to the Homo heidebergenisis and Homo neanderthalass skulls.  Mystery Skull-  This mystery skull is from Koobi Fora, Kenya, where three early human species have been found around the same time Homohabilis, Homoerectus, and Paranthropus boisei.  To identify the skull, compare it to the skull from each of these three species.  Mystery Skull-  This Mystery Skull Homo Erectus skull is from Africa.  Some years ago, scientists proposed that fossils called Homo erectus from Africa and Asia were actually from two different species.  Mystery Skull-  This male mystery skull is nicknamed the Black Skull due to it's color.  It was originally assigned to the species Paronthropus boisei to similarities in the wire flaring cheekbones. 
What are the four main groups and what are their common characteristics?
The four main groups are the Homo, Paranthropus, Australopithecus and the Ardipithecus group.
What are the 7 characteristics of humans?
1)  Humans are created in the image and likeness of God.
2)  Humans are called to happiness and holiness.
3)  Humans are rational and free.
4)  Humans are moral beings.
5)  Humans have passions or feelings.
6)  Humans are blessed with a conscience.
7)  Humans are able to sin.

Diamante Poem

Dodo Bird

Silly Foolish

Singing Dancing Crying

The Velociraptor is one of the main predators for Dodo Birds.

Fearing, Dying, Killing

Screeching and Running

Velociraptor