Biology/Fossils

What are biotic factors that affect an organism after death?

Living factors such as decomposers, scavengers and predators.

What is a fossil?

Fossils are remains or traces of ancient life. . Today, the word fossil refers only to the remains or traces of ancient life and is usually reserved for remains at least 10,000 years old.

What types of fossils are there?

Fossils can be body parts of ancient organisms such as bones, shells, teeth, or plant leaves, Fossils can also be traces left by organisms such as burrows, coprolites (feces), tracks and trails, nests or footprints

What is mineralization?

Mineralization occurs when minerals carried in water build up in the spaces of an organism and eventually become rock.

What are molds?

Molds are imprints left from something that was buried.

What are abiotic factors that affect an organism after death?

Non-living factors such as erosion, wind and sun exposure.

Whats is a macroscopic organism?

Objects or organisms that are large enough to be seen with the naked eye.

What is a Microscopic organism?

Objects or organisms that are too small to be seen with the naked eye.

What is a paleontologist?

Paleontologists are scientists who use fossils to study life in the past.

How are fossils formed?

Sediments, when carried by water, landslides, or wind can accumulate over time and cover the remains of an organism or its trace. As the layers of rock accumulate, their weight causes the lower layers to harden into sedimentary rock, trapping the organism or trace inside.