-
The observation that animal and plant fossils succeed one another, in an orderly and predictable way, is the law of faunal succession. It provides the foundation for the geological time scale.
History
In the late 1700s, an English engineer named William Smith observed that the type of fossils found changes as you go vertically from one rock layer to another.
Significance
Rock layers that are in different regions of the world, but contain similar fossils, indicate that the layers containing those fossils are from a similar time period.
Applications
Rocks can be dated from their fossil content. Generally, older rocks contain fossilized remains of primitive species, while younger rocks have fossilized remains of more evolved species.
Benefits
By studying the types of animals and plants that existed at a particular time period, the geologic conditions and climate of the Earth at that time can be determined. This helps to establish the history of Earth.
Correlation
The law of faunal succession supports the theory of evolution. It actually predates Charles Darwin's proposal of natural selection.
Source:
Encyclopedia Britannica: law of faunal succession
Copyright 2023, Wired Ivy, LLC