AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Fossils document the existence of now-extinct species, showing that different organisms have lived on Earth during different periods of the planet’s history. They can also help scientists reconstruct the evolutionary histories of present-day species.

Detailed explanation-2: -Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals, plants, and other organisms from the past. Fossils are important evidence for evolution because they show that life on earth was once different from life found on earth today.

Detailed explanation-3: -The fossil record helps paleontologists, archaeologists, and geologists place important events and species in the appropriate geologic era. It is based on the Law of Superposition which states that in undisturbed rock sequences the bottom layers are older than the top layers.

Detailed explanation-4: -The fossil record, however, describes sudden, global extinctions that affect many species. These dramatic events are known as mass extinctions. Some populations seem more vulnerable than others: tropical forms of life have been drastically affected, while land plants tend to be highly resistant to mass extinctions.

Detailed explanation-5: -What does the fossil record show about how life has changed over time? The fossil record shows that life on Earth has evolved, or changed over time. Simple one-celled organisms have given rise to complex plants and animals. The fossil record show that organisms have evoloved and many have become extinct.