BIO BEYOND RISE OF THE
ANIMALS: NILPENA, AUSTRALIA
Observations
Take a moment to observe the Nilpena environment as it looks today.
List three features or characteristics of this location that stand out to you.
Rocky Uneven Terrain
Hot & Dry Climate
Sparse grass & vegetation
Review it!
According to the video you just watched, select which answer describes when the
Ediacaran Period took place?
Just after the worldwide glaciation.
Make a guess.
As you look around the landscape, imagine what it might have looked like millions of
years ago when it was still underwater. If you had to GUESS what the environment here
at Nilpena might have looked like during the Ediacaran Period, which features do you
think could have been present?
Select a choice from each area.
Deep water more than 200m - little to no sunlight
Tropical marine
Waves with some storm events
Rocky
Make a guess.
Now imagine what types of organisms might have lived in that environment.
Again, making a guess, choose which of these organisms might have existed during the
Ediacaran Period. (select all that apply)
*select your guesses
Review it!
According to the video you just watched, Dr. Cohen makes a comment regarding why
the fossils of the Ediacaran Period are important.
Select which statement she makes regarding the fossils from the choices below.
The fossils represent the first example of large organisms in the fossil record.
How large is the concept of time?
Think about this: Humans today are closer in time to the Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex)
dinosaur that lived 66 million years ago from the present day...
...than the T-rex is to it's older ancestor the Stegosaurus dinosaur, that lived
appoximately 150 million years ago from the present day. (About 90 million years before
, the T-Rex existed!)
The first evidence of life on Earth was approximately 23 times earlier than when the
Stegosaurus lived. If you use the same logic from above, approximately how far back in
time do you think the first evidence of life on Earth would have been?
3.5 billion years ago
According to the video you just watched, Dr. Cohen talks about an important type of
bacteria called cyanobacteria.
Select what process Dr. Cohen states that these cyanobacteria can do.
Photosynthesis
How are the rocks layered here?
Horizontal like stacked pancakes
Vertical like arranged columns
Which way do these rocks appear to be orientated?
Horizontal like stacked pancakes
Is there a predominant rock type here?
As you have observed, the rocks in this outcrop are horizontally layered. As you look
the rocks, think about what the basic rock type is that you are observing at this outcrop.
Now, make a educated guess regarding what you think the basic rock type is that you
are observing here?
Sedimentary rocks -
Rocks formed by the deposition of
sediments by water, wind or ice.
Drag each of the six items below to one of the three picture environments above them.
Place each item in the location that you would most likely encounter where that item
would be located or mostly likely would have formed
Areas with the highest current or wave energy:
Conglomerate
Areas with moderate to high current or wave energy:
Areas away from shore in deep or quiet water areas:
According to the video you just watched on the fossil beds, Dr. Gehling talks about the
process of what they do to examine the underside of the fossil beds.
Select what process he states was the best solution
Trace the top on transparent paper then flip them
According to the video you just watched on ripple marks, Dr. Gehling states that when
ripple marks are very tight and close together, that tends to suggest what type of water?
Select from the choices below.
Shallow water
ANIMALS: NILPENA, AUSTRALIA
Observations
Take a moment to observe the Nilpena environment as it looks today.
List three features or characteristics of this location that stand out to you.
Rocky Uneven Terrain
Hot & Dry Climate
Sparse grass & vegetation
Review it!
According to the video you just watched, select which answer describes when the
Ediacaran Period took place?
Just after the worldwide glaciation.
Make a guess.
As you look around the landscape, imagine what it might have looked like millions of
years ago when it was still underwater. If you had to GUESS what the environment here
at Nilpena might have looked like during the Ediacaran Period, which features do you
think could have been present?
Select a choice from each area.
Deep water more than 200m - little to no sunlight
Tropical marine
Waves with some storm events
Rocky
Make a guess.
Now imagine what types of organisms might have lived in that environment.
Again, making a guess, choose which of these organisms might have existed during the
Ediacaran Period. (select all that apply)
*select your guesses
Review it!
According to the video you just watched, Dr. Cohen makes a comment regarding why
the fossils of the Ediacaran Period are important.
Select which statement she makes regarding the fossils from the choices below.
The fossils represent the first example of large organisms in the fossil record.
How large is the concept of time?
Think about this: Humans today are closer in time to the Tyrannosaurus rex (T-rex)
dinosaur that lived 66 million years ago from the present day...
...than the T-rex is to it's older ancestor the Stegosaurus dinosaur, that lived
appoximately 150 million years ago from the present day. (About 90 million years before
, the T-Rex existed!)
The first evidence of life on Earth was approximately 23 times earlier than when the
Stegosaurus lived. If you use the same logic from above, approximately how far back in
time do you think the first evidence of life on Earth would have been?
3.5 billion years ago
According to the video you just watched, Dr. Cohen talks about an important type of
bacteria called cyanobacteria.
Select what process Dr. Cohen states that these cyanobacteria can do.
Photosynthesis
How are the rocks layered here?
Horizontal like stacked pancakes
Vertical like arranged columns
Which way do these rocks appear to be orientated?
Horizontal like stacked pancakes
Is there a predominant rock type here?
As you have observed, the rocks in this outcrop are horizontally layered. As you look
the rocks, think about what the basic rock type is that you are observing at this outcrop.
Now, make a educated guess regarding what you think the basic rock type is that you
are observing here?
Sedimentary rocks -
Rocks formed by the deposition of
sediments by water, wind or ice.
Drag each of the six items below to one of the three picture environments above them.
Place each item in the location that you would most likely encounter where that item
would be located or mostly likely would have formed
Areas with the highest current or wave energy:
Conglomerate
Areas with moderate to high current or wave energy:
Areas away from shore in deep or quiet water areas:
According to the video you just watched on the fossil beds, Dr. Gehling talks about the
process of what they do to examine the underside of the fossil beds.
Select what process he states was the best solution
Trace the top on transparent paper then flip them
According to the video you just watched on ripple marks, Dr. Gehling states that when
ripple marks are very tight and close together, that tends to suggest what type of water?
Select from the choices below.
Shallow water
