Evolution of Life on Earth

Flashcards covering important vocabulary and concepts related to the evolution of life on Earth and the fossil record.

Great Oxidation Event (GOE)

The time around 2,400 Myr when atmospheric oxygen started to accumulate.

Stromatolites

Rocks with fine layering made by bacteria trapping sediment particles, some of the earliest evidence of life.

Cambrian Explosion

A major diversification of life at 540 Myr, leading to the evolution of complex body plans.

Burgess Shale

A fossil-rich deposit from the Mid Cambrian, providing insights into early marine ecosystems.

Ediacran fauna

Soft-bodied multicellular organisms from 580 Myr to the base of the Cambrian, some of the first animals.

Photosynthetic cyanobacteria

Bacteria that produce oxygen through photosynthesis, significant in the early atmosphere's oxygen levels.

Precambrian

The geological time period before the Cambrian, spanning approximately 4,600 Myr to 541 Myr.

Palaeozoic Era

An era from 541 Myr to 252 Myr known for the diversity of life forms, including fish and early amphibians.

Fossilization

The process by which remains of organisms are preserved in sedimentary rocks.

Lagerstätten

Sites with exceptional fossil preservation, often containing both soft and hard-bodied fossils.