6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 1 The Paleozoic World Life Takes Hold…

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 2 Time Periods of the Paleozoic Cambrian ( mya) Cambrian ( mya) Ordovician (504 – 438 mya) Ordovician (504 – 438 mya) Silurian (438 – 408 mya) Silurian (438 – 408 mya) Devonian (408 – 360 mya) Devonian (408 – 360 mya) Mississippian (360 – 320 mya) Mississippian (360 – 320 mya) Pennsylvanian (320 – 286 mya) Pennsylvanian (320 – 286 mya) Permian (286 – 245 mya) Permian (286 – 245 mya)

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 3 Major Themes of the Paleozoic Life Explodes! Life Explodes! Shells (and skeletons) form Shells (and skeletons) form Major phyla (except birds and mammals) and plants evolve Major phyla (except birds and mammals) and plants evolve Plants and animals conquer the land Plants and animals conquer the land First major extinction events occur First major extinction events occur Numerous continental collisions Numerous continental collisions Forms major mountain chains (Appalachians, Urals, Ozarks, Caledonians) Forms major mountain chains (Appalachians, Urals, Ozarks, Caledonians) Eventually leads to the formation of Pangaea Eventually leads to the formation of Pangaea

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 4 Major Themes of the Paleozoic Major Transgressions and Regressions of the Ocean Major Transgressions and Regressions of the Ocean Ocean advances and retreats onto the continents Ocean advances and retreats onto the continents Forms the major sedimentary structures seen today Forms the major sedimentary structures seen today First soils develop First soils develop Sediments existed earlier, but true soils need organic material (life forms) Sediments existed earlier, but true soils need organic material (life forms) Development of new rock types Development of new rock types Limestone family (limestone, dolostone, marble) Limestone family (limestone, dolostone, marble) Fossil fuels deposited Fossil fuels deposited

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 5 The Cambrian Period During the Cambrian, most of North America is covered in a warm, shallow sea (Sauk Sea) at the equator During the Cambrian, most of North America is covered in a warm, shallow sea (Sauk Sea) at the equator What is now NJ was attached to Africa and was located near the south pole! What is now NJ was attached to Africa and was located near the south pole!

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 6 The Cambrian Explosion Life is suddenly all over! Life is suddenly all over! Major development – shells and exoskeletons Major development – shells and exoskeletons Common forms of life from this time period include: Common forms of life from this time period include: Trilobites Trilobites Brachipods Brachipods Archaeocyathids Archaeocyathids Early fishes Early fishes

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 7 The Cambrian Explosion

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 8 The Ordovician World The major geologic event of the Ordovician period was the collision of North America with a chain of volcanic islands to the east The major geologic event of the Ordovician period was the collision of North America with a chain of volcanic islands to the east Known as the “Taconic Orogeny” – built the Catskill Mtns of New York and Berkshires of Mass. Known as the “Taconic Orogeny” – built the Catskill Mtns of New York and Berkshires of Mass. Gondwana (Africa, South America, Australia, etc) is at the south pole and experiences glaciation Gondwana (Africa, South America, Australia, etc) is at the south pole and experiences glaciation

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 9 North America in the Ordovician

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 10 Life in the Ordovician Major development in life are the beginnings of land plants – first life on land!! Major development in life are the beginnings of land plants – first life on land!! Leads to the development of first soils Leads to the development of first soils New life forms include graptolites and conodonts New life forms include graptolites and conodonts First extinction event occurs at the end of this period First extinction event occurs at the end of this period Event has been linked to glaciation of Gondwana Event has been linked to glaciation of Gondwana

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 11 Life in the Ordovician Graptolite Conodonts

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 12 The Silurian ( mya) During the Silurian, northern North America (New England) collided with northern Europe to produce the Acadian Mountains (Maine, NH, and VT) During the Silurian, northern North America (New England) collided with northern Europe to produce the Acadian Mountains (Maine, NH, and VT) Begins in the Silurian but continues into the Devonian Begins in the Silurian but continues into the Devonian Coincides with building of Scottish Highlands in Europe Coincides with building of Scottish Highlands in Europe

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 13 The Silurian

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 14 Life in the Silurian The extinctions in the Ordovician allowed new organisms to gain hold The extinctions in the Ordovician allowed new organisms to gain hold New types of life include: New types of life include: Gastropods (snails) Gastropods (snails) Corals – form large reefs Corals – form large reefs Crinoids Crinoids Eurypterids – sea scorpions (can grow to 6 feet!) Eurypterids – sea scorpions (can grow to 6 feet!) Plants colonize the land! Plants colonize the land! Large ferns (size of trees) Large ferns (size of trees)

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 15 Life in the Silurian

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 16 The Devonian (408 – 360 mya) Known as the Age of Fishes since fishes dominate the seas Known as the Age of Fishes since fishes dominate the seas Amphibians (first land animals!) evolve Amphibians (first land animals!) evolve Return to water to reproduce Return to water to reproduce Very large compared to amphibians of today Very large compared to amphibians of today Seed plants evolve Seed plants evolve Beginning of mountain building in western USA (Rockies) Beginning of mountain building in western USA (Rockies) Acadian mountain building continues Acadian mountain building continues

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 17 The Devonian

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 18 The Devonian Crisis A large extinction took place at the end of the Devonian that destroyed most of the tropical reef communities A large extinction took place at the end of the Devonian that destroyed most of the tropical reef communities It is believed that this event is linked to “Global Cooling” It is believed that this event is linked to “Global Cooling” Other likely causes include the destruction of reefs by closing of the Iapetus Sea Other likely causes include the destruction of reefs by closing of the Iapetus Sea

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 19 The Carboniferous (360 – 286 mya) The Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods are together called the Carboniferous period The Mississippian and Pennsylvanian periods are together called the Carboniferous period They are dominated by large-scale tropical forests – source of our modern “fossil fuels” like coal, oil and natural gas They are dominated by large-scale tropical forests – source of our modern “fossil fuels” like coal, oil and natural gas Large insects dominate (2 ft long dragonflies!) Large insects dominate (2 ft long dragonflies!) Reptiles evolve – first true eggs Reptiles evolve – first true eggs Crinoids form large “forests” that will become chalk beds – “White Cliffs of Dover” Crinoids form large “forests” that will become chalk beds – “White Cliffs of Dover”

Carboniferous Insects & Arthopods 6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 20

Carboniferous Life 6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 21

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 22 The Carboniferous (360 – 286 mya) Final collision that forms Pangaea begins – will end in the Permian Final collision that forms Pangaea begins – will end in the Permian This collision produces the southern Appalachian mountains This collision produces the southern Appalachian mountains

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 23 The Carboniferous World

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 24 Coal Swamps The rich forests and swamps of the Carboniferous period lead to the development of all our fossil fuels today The rich forests and swamps of the Carboniferous period lead to the development of all our fossil fuels today Includes coal, natural gas, and oil Includes coal, natural gas, and oil Organic Material (decaying plant leaves, etc) is deposited and then gets covered by marine deposits (sand and mud) as the sea transgresses Organic Material (decaying plant leaves, etc) is deposited and then gets covered by marine deposits (sand and mud) as the sea transgresses Weight of sand and mud compresses the organic material into coal and other fossil fuels Weight of sand and mud compresses the organic material into coal and other fossil fuels

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 25 The Carboniferous (360 – 286 mya)

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 26 The Permian Period (286 – 245 mya) Most areas of North America are above water for the first time in history Most areas of North America are above water for the first time in history Deserts dominate most of continent Deserts dominate most of continent

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 27 The Permian Period (286 – 245 mya) Pangaea has completely formed Pangaea has completely formed Changes weather and climate patterns Changes weather and climate patterns Result is the greatest mass extinction in the history of the earth Result is the greatest mass extinction in the history of the earth 90% of marine invertebrates and 50% of land animals die 90% of marine invertebrates and 50% of land animals die Paves the way for the dinosaur explosion of the Mesozoic Paves the way for the dinosaur explosion of the Mesozoic

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 28 Pangaea

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 29 The P-T Event The massive extinction at the end of the Permian marks the boundary between the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic The massive extinction at the end of the Permian marks the boundary between the Paleozoic and the Mesozoic The extinction event is not caused by an impact (although one may have contributed) The extinction event is not caused by an impact (although one may have contributed)

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 30 Siberian Traps

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 31 The P-T Event This extinction event is the greatest the world has ever known This extinction event is the greatest the world has ever known Numerous groups of marine creatures that had existed for millions of years died off – never to be seen again Numerous groups of marine creatures that had existed for millions of years died off – never to be seen again Trilobites Trilobites Two types of coral Two types of coral Almost all the brachipods Almost all the brachipods Crinoids Crinoids Land organisms were also affected Land organisms were also affected 65% of all amphibians and 33% of all insects 65% of all amphibians and 33% of all insects

6/23/2016AF Carpinelli 32 Outcomes of the P-T Event The loss of so many species allowed other organisms to fill their niches The loss of so many species allowed other organisms to fill their niches Where brachipods were once plentiful, mollusks and echinoids (starfish family) took over Where brachipods were once plentiful, mollusks and echinoids (starfish family) took over The loss of amphibians allowed reptiles to flourish and diversify The loss of amphibians allowed reptiles to flourish and diversify Dinosaurs are one subgroup of reptiles that developed at this time Dinosaurs are one subgroup of reptiles that developed at this time