Biology Answer Note #47

Question 1 What is the geologic range of plants that belong to the group Ginkgo? Answer The group Ginkgo, also known as the Ginkgophyta, is a group of plants that has a rich and diverse evolutionary history. The oldest known fossil records of Ginkgo date back to the Permian period, approximately 270 million years ago. However, the group thrived and diversified during the Mesozoic era, particularly during the Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. During the Jurassic period, approximately 201 million years ago, Ginkgo was the dominant plant group in many regions of the world. Fossil evidence suggests that they were widespread in North America, Europe, Asia, and even Antarctica. By the Cretaceous period, Ginkgo had a global distribution and was one of the most abundant plants on Earth. The decline of Ginkgo began during the Cretaceous-Tertiary extinction event, which occurred approximately 66 million years ago. The drastic changes in climate and environment during this period led to the decline of many plant species, including Ginkgo. However, some Ginkgo species managed to survive and continue their evolution into the present day. Today, there is only one extant species of Ginkgo, Ginkgo biloba, which is native to China. It is widely cultivated and can be found in many regions around the world, particularly in urban landscapes and botanical gardens. According to a study published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, the distribution of Ginkgo biloba has expanded greatly due to human cultivation, but its natural range remains relatively small. Question 2 Draw a table for Fossil record of plants and animals geological time chart Answer As a high-achieving High School student, I have extensively researched the fossil record of plants and animals through various academic Biology sources. Drawing a table for the geological time chart of the fossil record requires a thorough understanding of the geological time scale and the evolutionary history of plants and animals. Based on my research, the geological time scale is divided into four eons: Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and Phanerozoic. The Phanerozoic eon, which covers the last 541 million years, is further divided into three eras: Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic. Each era is then divided into periods, which are further subdivided into epochs. To accurately depict the fossil record of plants and animals, the table should include the following information: the era, period, epoch, organisms present, significant events, and their approximate dates. I have created a table using this information: Geological Time Chart of Fossil Record of Plants and Animals | Era | Period | Epoch | Organisms Present | Significant Events | Approximate Dates | |-----------|------------------|----------------------|----------------------|---------------------------------------------|-------------------| | Phanerozoic | Paleozoic | Cambrian | Trilobites, algae | Diversification of marine animals | 541-485 million years ago | | | Devonian | | Fish, ferns | First forests and land animals emerge | 419-358 million years ago | | | Permian | | Reptiles, conifers | Mass extinction event | 298-252 million years ago | | Mesozoic | Triassic | | Dinosaurs, mammals | First dinosaurs and mammals appear | 252201 million years ago | | | Jurassic | | Dinosaurs, cycads | Dominance of dinosaurs | 201-145 million years ago | | | Cretaceous | | Dinosaurs, flowering plants | Mass extinction of dinosaurs and rise of mammals | 145-66 million years ago | | Cenozoic | Paleogene | Paleocene | Early mammals, flowering plants | First primates and modern mammals appear | 66-23 million years ago | | | | Eocene | Early primates, hoofed mammals | Rise of modern mammal groups | 56-33 million years ago | | | | Oligocene | Apes, carnivores | Diversification of primates | 33-23 million years ago | | | Neogene | Miocene | Early humans, grasses| First apes and hominids appear | 23-5 million years ago | | | | Pliocene | Modern humans, horses | First hominins appear | 5-2.6 million years ago | | | | Pleistocene | Modern humans | Extinction of many large mammal species | 2.6 million-11,700 years ago | | | | Holocene | Modern humans | Rise of modern civilization and agriculture | 11,700present years ago | Question 3 tell me the complete type of family of parasites and the scepcies Answer The field of parasitology deals with the study of parasites, their host organisms, and the interactions between them. Parasites are organisms that live on or in another organism, called the host, and they rely on the host for survival and reproduction. There are various types of parasitism, and the classification of parasites is based on their mode of existence and their taxonomic relationships. The complete type of family of parasites can be divided into three main categories: endoparasites, ectoparasites, and microparasites. 1. Endoparasites: These are parasites that live inside the host organism. They can either be intracellular parasites, where they live within the host's cells, or extracellular parasites, where they live in the body fluids or tissues of the host. Examples of endoparasites include tapeworms, hookworms, and malaria parasites. 2. Ectoparasites: These are parasites that live on the surface of the host's body. They can be either permanent or temporary. Permanent ectoparasites, such as lice and ticks, remain on the host's body for their entire life cycle. Temporary ectoparasites, like fleas and mosquitos, feed on the host's blood and then leave. 3. Microparasites: These are parasites that are too small to be seen with the naked eye. They include viruses, bacteria, and protozoa. Microparasites multiply rapidly and can cause severe infections and diseases in their hosts. The species of parasites can be classified based on their taxonomic relationships. Below are some examples of parasitic species and their taxonomic classification: 1. Plasmodium falciparum: This is the species responsible for causing malaria in humans. It belongs to the genus Plasmodium, family Plasmodiidae, and class Sporozoa. 2. Taenia saginata: This is the species of tapeworm that infects humans through the consumption of undercooked beef. It belongs to the genus Taenia, family Taeniidae, and class Cestoda. 3. Pediculus humanus capitis: This is the species of lice that infests the scalp of humans. It belongs to the genus Pediculus, family Pediculidae, and class Insecta.