Earth Sciences 1083F/G Study Guide - Final Guide: Chordate, Depth Perception, Caudipteryx
29 Oct 2013
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Document Summary
For dead remains to survive into fossil records requires exceptional conditions. Low preservation potential of remains if exposed at the earths surface (oxygen) After an organism dies, its tissues are destroyed sue to a variety of factors. Large and small scavengers take their share of soft tissue. Microbes break down dead organic matter further at the molecular level. Decay often proceeds from the inside out. Breaks down hard mineralized tissue (shells, bones, teeth) Mineralized tissues tend to dissolve and erode at the surface. Hard parts have a greater chance of survival in the fossil record than soft tissues because hard parts are more robust, stable, and resistant to destruction. But are rarely preserved properly because soft tissue decay removes the connective tissue that holds the hard parts together. Fragmentation breakage and dissociation of fragments thus formed. Hard parts that may survive are subject to. Dissolution breakdown of hard parts through the dissolution of minerals.
