The History of Life on Earth.ppt

The History of Life on Earth As We Know It The History of Earth Earth is ~ 4.5 billion years old Earth’s history is divided into four eons Hadean Eon: (Gk: Hades - the netherworld) Archean Eon: (Gk: Arche - ancient) Proterozoic Eon: (Gk: Protero - former) Phanaerozoic Eon (Gk: Phanero - visible, apparent) The History of Earth The most recent eon is divided into three eras Paleozoic Era (Gk: Paleo - ancient) Mesozoic Era (Gk: Meso - middle) Cenozoic Era (Gk: Ceno - recent) The History of Earth eras of the modern eon are divided into periods Paleozoic Era Cambrian Period Ordovician Period Silurian Period Devonian Period Carboniferous Period Permian Period The History of Earth eras of the modern eon are divided into periods Mesozoic Era Triassic Period Jurassic Period Cretaceous Period Cenozoic Era Tertiary Period Quaternary Period Earth’s History: Changing ConditionsTable 22.1 Earth’s History: Changing Conditions atmospheric oxygen concentration has risen from near 0 to ~21% See Figure 22.3 Earth’s History: Changing Conditions atmospheric oxygen concentration has risen from near 0 to ~21% mean temperature has fluctuated significantly sea level has fluctuated significantly continents have entirely changed positions relatively gradual changes rapid, climate-changing events “catastrophic” events have modified the evolution of life Earth’s History: Changing Conditions atmospheric oxygen concentration has risen from near 0 to ~21% mean temperature has fluctuated significantly sea level has fluctuated significantly continents have entirely changed positions “catastrophic” events have modified the evolution of life Dramatic climate change End of Ordovician, Devonian, Permian, Triassic, Cretaceous Volcanism End of Permian During Triassic, Cretaceous Meteorite collisions End of Triassic, End of Cretaceous Figure 22.6 “catastrophic” events have modified the evolution of life several mass extinctions have occurred repeatedly, up to 75% of species became extinct afterwar