History of Life Project: The Jurassic Era

Jurassic Period: During the Mesozoic Era 200 - 146 million years ago (according to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History) Average seems to be from 202.1 - 142.2 mya ~54 million years long Source: http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/htmlversion/jurassic1.html photo: https://www.ncsu.edu/project/interactivebiology/350/History%20of%20life%20project/History_of_life.html

Defining Characteristics of the Jurassic Period “Age of the Dinosaurs” Dinosaurs begin to diversify Stegosaurs, theropods, huge sauropods Birds originated during this time Pangea continues to break apart Warm, tropical climate Source: “The Jurassic.” Smithsonian: National Museum of Natural History. Department of Paleobiology, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2016. http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/htmlversion/jurassic1.html picture: http://www.kidsdinos.com/images/dinosaurs/Archaeopteryx1140553061.jpg Archaeopteryx

Life: Dinosaurs Sauropods: Large dinosaurs with long necks and tails and small heads. (Ex. Brachiosaurus) Large plant-eating dinosaurs (Ex. Stegosaurus) Carnosaurs- Large predatory theropods (Ex. Allosaurus) Coelurosaurs- smaller theropods that more closely resemble birds Some popular dinosaurs such as T-rex, velociraptor, and triceratops did not live during this time period. “Jurassic Period: Life.” Berkley. n.d. Web. 29 Jan 2016. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mesozoic/jurassic/jurassiclife.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allosaurus http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/science/dinosaurs/11231863/Worlds-most-complete-stegosaurus-unveiled-by-Natural-History-Museum.html http://www.comicvine.com/images/1300-4241681

More Dinosaurs - Ornithischia Diverse dinosaur group Had bird-like hip bones Special extra bone (predentary) in lower jaw Mostly herbivorous Thyreophora - armored dinosaurs Ornithopods - bipedal herbivores “Dinosauria.” Paleos: Life Through Deep Time. (March 2001). Web. 31 Jan 2016. Retrieved from: http://palaeos.com/vertebrates/dinosauria/index.html http://higheredbcs.wiley.com/legacy/college/levin/0471697435/chap_tut/chaps/chapter14-06.html

Marine Life Marine reptiles such as ichthyosaurs (fish-like reptiles), plesiosaurs, giant crocodiles Fish, including early teleost fishes Sharks and rays Cephalopods Ammonites- predatory squid-like cephalopods that lived in coiled shells Belemnites Coral reefs, sponges, snails, and molluscs “Ammonites.” National Geographic. 2016. Web. 29 Jan 2016 http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/prehistoric/ammonites/ “Jurassic Period: Life.” Berkley. n.d. Web. 29 Jan 2016. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/mesozoic/jurassic/jurassiclife.html http://people.bath.ac.uk/exxbgs/bathbeforeromans/160ma_ichthyosaurs.htm http://blog.hmns.org/tag/jurassic-period/

Life Small early mammals Possible earliest bird evolved- archaeopteryx Insects included beetles, leafhoppers, moths, bees, and wasps Dinoflagellates, foraminiferans, coccolithophorids Davis, Brenna. “Prehistoric Insects in the Jurassic Period.” 2016. Web. 29 Jan 2016. http://www.ehow.com/info_8538325_prehistoric-insects-jurassic-period.html http://sciencythoughts.blogspot.com/2013/12/fourteen-new-species-of-moth-from.html http://dinosaurs.about.com/od/otherprehistoriclife/a/earlymammals.htm

Plant Life Most plants in the Jurassic were ferns, horsetails, ginkgoes, bennettitales, and true cycads. These plants were vascularized, and many reproduced via spores. During the period gymnosperms (such as cone bearing trees) evolved. Their reproduction methods allowed them to spread throughout the world effectively, creating conifer forests. Moss like bryophytes that had been more abundant in the Triassic were now mostly restricted to swampy areas. Images from: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5a/Matteuccia_struthiopteris.jpg/300px-Matteuccia_struthiopteris.jpg http://homeguides.sfgate.com/name-group-plants-seeds-not-surrounded-fruit-58100.html Live Science Staff. (April 2016). Jurassic Period Facts. Live Science. Retrieved from: http://www.livescience.com/28739-jurassic-period.html (last viewed: January 31, 2016) Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology. n.d. The Jurassic: Jurassic Life. Geologic Time. Retrieved from: http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/htmlversion/jurassic2.html (last viewed January 31, 2016)

Adaptations Archaeopteryx Vulcanodon Dilophosaurus Pictures from: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/resources/nature-online/life/dinosaurs/dinosaur-directory/images/%5Creconstruction/small/Vulcanodon.jpg http://sites.psu.edu/kateyorko/wp-content/uploads/sites/31945/2015/10/Dilophosaurus.jpg http://biologypop.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/archaeopteryx_12.jpg

Adaptations Stegosaurus Temnodontosaurus Pliosaurus Pictures from http://www.howitworksdaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/388625-stegosaurus.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/a4/Temnodontosaurus_DB.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8a/PliosaurusDB12.jpg/170px-PliosaurusDB12.jpg

Extinctions Triassic-Jurassic extinction Due to lava flood or asteroid During beginning of Jurassic period 20% of ocean families, many mammal-like organisms, large amphibians, non-dinosaur archosaurs died out Late Pliensbachian/Early Toarcian event: Ammonite extinctions Anoxic ocean conditions Prosauropod extinction (during the middle of the period) Late Tithonian event: most remaining ammonites died out Aspidoceratidae Ataciocertidae Dorosplanitidae https://kurious.ku.edu.tr/en/wide-angle/when-life-gives Bullet one: “Mass Extinctions: What Causes Animal Die-Offs?” National Geographic . N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2016. http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/mass-extinction/. Bullet two: “Introduction to Prosauropods.” University of California Museum of Paleontology . Berkley , n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2016. http://www.ucmp.berkeley.edu/diapsids/saurischia/prosauropods.html Bullet three: Dera, G., Neige, P., Dommergues, J., Fara, E., Laffont, R., & Pellenard, P. (2010). High-resolution dynamics of early jurassic marine extinctions: The case of pliensbachian-toarcian ammonites (cephalopoda). Journal of the Geological Society, 167, 21-33. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/209459194?accountid=12725 Bullet four: Hallam, A . “The Pliensbachian and Tithonian Extinction Events.” Nature 319.319 (1986): 765–768. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Birmingham. Web. 28 Jan. 2016.

Prestosuchus - An example of a non-dinosaur archosaur Ammonite 1: archosaur - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pseudosuchia#/media/File:Prestosuchus.jpg 2: ammonite - http://www.gameteep.net/jurassic-park-builder/ammonite/ 3: prosauropod - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sauropodomorpha Prosauropod

Climate and Geography Breakup of Pangaea accelerates, creating more distinct landmasses and opening up gaps that helped form large bodies of water including the Atlantic. The breakup also caused the formation of many epicontinental seaways. Sea levels were pushed up by the presence of new underwater mountains. Image from: http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/animate/ Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology. n.d. The Jurassic: Jurassic Climate and Tectonic Activity. Geologic Time. Retrieved from: http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/htmlversion/jurassic5.html (last viewed January 31, 2016) Enchanted Learning. n.d. The Jurassic Period. Zoom Dinosaurs. Retrieved from: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/mesozoic/Jurassic.html (last viewed January 31, 2016) National Geographic. n.d. Jurassic Period. National Geographic. Retrieved from: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/jurassic/ (last viewed January 31, 2016)

Climate and Geography Described as a greenhouse climate, very warm and moist. Lush greenery covered most of the planet. There was no polar ice in the Jurassic. Due to the large amount of water, there was very little seasonality. Image from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jurassic Smithsonian Department of Paleobiology. n.d. The Jurassic: Jurassic Climate and Tectonic Activity. Geologic Time. Retrieved from: http://paleobiology.si.edu/geotime/main/htmlversion/jurassic5.html (last viewed January 31, 2016) Enchanted Learning. n.d. The Jurassic Period. Zoom Dinosaurs. Retrieved from: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/mesozoic/Jurassic.html (last viewed January 31, 2016) National Geographic. n.d. Jurassic Period. National Geographic. Retrieved from: http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/prehistoric-world/jurassic/ (last viewed January 31, 2016)