Geologic Time, Fossils, Impact Events

Producers

Consumers

Decomposers

Paleontologists

Producers

Consumers

Decomposers

Paleontologists

They make their own food

They rely on plants for food

They obtain energy from wastes and dead plants and animals

They study fossils

Actual organisms or some part of them

Imprints of organisms or some part of them

Trace fossils of organisms' life activities

Fossils of body parts that have dissolved away

Actual organisms or some part of them

Imprints of organisms or some part of them

Traces of an organism's life activities

Fossils of body parts that have dissolved away

Being buried and decayed

Being moved to a place where it can be buried

Being buried and avoiding decay

Being exposed to sunlight

Limestones

Shales

Sandstones

Conglomerates

Processes have been operating on Earth for millions of years

Processes have been operating on Earth for billions of years

Processes have been operating on Earth for thousands of years

Processes have been operating on Earth for hundreds of years

relative dates are typically younger

relative dates have number values

Absolute dates are expressed as "younger" or "older" than something

Absolute dates are expressed in years before present

eon

era

period

epoch