Geology Reference
In-Depth Information
The challenge with trace fossils is that scientists cannot know for certain
which animal created the clues that are left behind (unless that animal is pre-
served in the act of creating the trace fossil!). But trace fossils are still important
because unlike body fossils of organisms, trace fossils provide clues to the past
actions, habits, and living patterns of ancient organisms.
Correcting For Bias in the Fossil Record
While fossil remains of organisms are useful to explore hypotheses about early life, the
evolution of life, and other questions about earth's biological past, you should always
keep in mind that the fossil record is incomplete, or biased.
By biased I mean that only part of the story is being told while other parts are being left
out or overlooked. In the case of the fossil record, the story told in the rocks is almost
entirely about organisms with bones, teeth, or shells. These hard body parts are more
often and more easily preserved. This means that some organisms (such as dinosaurs
and shellfish) are overrepresented, while others (such as jellyfish or earthworms) are
underrepresented or absent.
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