...Answers • Store • Outreach • Media • Kids • Education • Donate • Answers in Genesis • Answers • Animals • Dinosaurs • Dinosaur Extinction • The Extinction of the Dinosaurs The Extinction of the Dinosaurs by Michael J. Oard on August 1, 1997 Share: • • • • Originally published in Journal of Creation 11, no 2 (August 1997): 137-154. Shop Now First published: TJ (now Journal of Creation) 11(2):137–154 August 1997 by Michael J. Oard Dinosaur extinction is still a major enigma of earth history. In this review article, extinctions in the geological record will be briefly mentioned. Many of the imaginative theories for the extinction of the dinosaurs will also be presented. Within the uniformitarian paradigm, the meteorite impact theory, once considered ‘outrageous’, now is the dominant theory. However, the volcanic theory is still believed by a majority of palaeontologists. Both theories have their strengths and weaknesses. The unscientific behaviour of those involved in the meteorite paradigm change will be briefly explored. Evidence that the dinosaurs died in a cataclysm of global proportions will be presented, such as the huge water-laid dinosaur graveyards found over the earth. Occasional monospecific bone-beds and the rarity of fossils of very young dinosaurs suggest a catastrophic death and burial. The billions of dinosaur tracks recently discovered provide testimony to unusual, stressful conditions. Nests, eggs, and babies are a challenge...
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...What killed the dinosaurs Introduction: It is one of the greatest puzzles in paleontology. For more than 150 million years, dinosaurs rule the Earth. They were so successful than other animals groups, mammals included, had little change of taking over. Then, 65 million years ago, the dinosaurs disappeared from the world altogether. Did they meet a quick and catastrophic end, or did they fade away gradually? What happened 65 million years ago? In the search for answers to what killed the dinosaurs at the end of the Cretaceous Period in the Mesozoic Era, scientists have looked beyond fossils. Geological evidence also holds clues and has led to many hypotheses, working explanations, of how dinosaurs may have become extinct. The extinction mystery is far from a simple “whodunit.” The same piece of evidence is sometimes subject to multiple interpretations. And, as yet, there is no obvious answer, no piece of evidence that strongly supports only one hypothesis while showing that all others are incorrect. So what do we know about dinosaur extinction, and how do we know it. Evidence: Scientific evidence and observations are the building blocks of hypotheses. At first the same evidence and observations may support different hypotheses. As more evidence becomes available, some hypotheses are proven, others are disproved, and new ones are formed. Hypotheses: A dinosaur extinction hypothesis is a testable statement describing...
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...Dinosaur extinction is still a major mystery of earth history. In this review article, extinctions in the geological record will be briefly mentioned. Many of the imaginative theories for the extinction of the dinosaurs will also be presented. Within the uniformitarian paradigm, the meteorite impact theory, once considered ‘outrageous’, now is the dominant theory. However, the volcanic theory is still believed by a majority of paleontologists. Both theories have their strengths and weaknesses. The unscientific behavior of those involved in the meteorite paradigm change will be briefly explored. Evidence that the dinosaurs died in a cataclysm of global proportions will be presented, such as the huge water-laid dinosaur graveyards found over the earth. Occasional nonspecific bone-beds and the rarity of fossils of very young dinosaurs suggest a catastrophic death and burial. The billions of dinosaur tracks recently discovered provide testimony to unusual, stressful conditions. Nests, eggs, and babies are a challenge to a Flood model, but there are enough unknowns associated with the data that solid conclusions are difficult to draw. The part that impacts and volcanism play in a Flood paradigm will be briefly discussed. The question of whether the K/T boundary and the extinction of the dinosaurs should be considered a synchronous event within the Flood will be considered. Introduction Dinosaurs bring wonder to children and adults alike. That such great beasts once roamed the earth...
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...interior of Pangaea because of the arid climate that they were adapted to; however, the end of the Permian period and included the mass extinction of many species previously alive, including many reptiles. The reason for this extinction has not yet been uncovered. The Mesozoic era (251-66 mya) that ensued is known as the Age of Reptiles due to the fact that reptiles that survived the mass extinction thrived in all ecological roles left absent by dead species. Crocodile-like reptiles called thecodonts evolved into dinosaurs. Dinosaurs dominated all terrestrial life approximately 150 mya ago beginning 235 mya. With the first appearances of dinosaurs came the deformation of Pangaea. The different landmasses harbored differing climates, which killed species of dinosaurs that could not adapt and encouraged the growth of dinosaurs that could. Dinosaurs from different eras were rather unlike and have differing theories surrounding the causes for their extinction. These dinosaurs include the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous Dinosaurs. “The oldest known dinosaurs fossils are in rocks from the early Triassic period, about 235 million years ago. By the end of the Triassic, small carnivorous dinosaurs were very common and had largely replaced the thecodonts.” (Holt, Biology, 820) Furthermore, there are several causes that contributed to the success of dinosaurs: dinosaurs were faster and more lithe runners than the thecodonts because of their bipedal legs, they possessed useful adaptations to the...
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...of approximately 21 km” (Tagliaferri, 1998). Scientists were lucky to record this data via satellite to study the force an asteroid can have when impacting firsthand. There is evidence of asteroid impacts covering the surface of the earth and other surrounding planets in space. There are also many theories involving asteroid impacts causing mass extinctions on Earth, the most common being the extinction of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago (deGrasse Tyson, 2005). Most of the impact evidence shows that the earth has been attacked by these asteroids since its formation billions of years ago. Evidence all around us tells us that the Earth will be struck, and another major asteroid impact will occur. The most common and highly argued impact event is the one that may have wiped out the dinosaurs. This event in itself has many theories, but the one common element in most sound dinosaur extinction theories is that a major impact event occurred around the same time the dinosaurs stopped roaming the Earth. Most of the scientific community agrees that an asteroid impact did destroy the dinosaurs. Some scientists; however, claim that the dinosaurs were dying off well before the asteroid strike, due to climate changes, and that the impact only “finished them off” (Archibald, 2005). This very well could be...
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...Mesozoic towering dinosaurs and extended hominid human family. The unique fossils, concrete interactive displays and recreated sea and terrestrial landscapes help the compelling story of evolution- the single process that connects everything that has ever lived on earth. Evolution of life on Earth occurred 4.5 billion years ago, the Precambrian Eon. This Eon makes up ninety percent of Earth’s history. Organic compounds were the building blocks on Earth; two theories exist of how these forms came to be; they may have formed on Earth, through underwater thermal vents, or carried to Earth through meteorites. What followed, were prokaryotes, single celled organisms, and eukaryotes, multi-cellular organisms. The development of prokaryotes caused transformations to Earth, through the process of photosynthesis, which allowed for the development of oxygen in our atmosphere. Through Eukaryotes, natural selection was possible, due to genetic variation. During the Paleozoic era, which occurred 543 million years ago, there was an explosion of life, which led to the wide variation of life that we see today. Throughout this period there was a significant outburst in marine life. As time evolved, skeletons had evolved structurally, which allowed for larger bodied organisms to grow. Their chemical composition includes the minerals calcium and phosphate. Although evolution allowed for new adaptations, they weren’t significant enough to withstand the first extinction on Earth, which wiped...
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...Dinosaurs of the Jurassic Period Jurassic Period- 206-144 mya • Took place roughly 210 million years ago. • Lasted around 70 million years • This was the second(middle) period of the three divisions of the Mesozoic era. • Age of the Dinosaurs, first bird life. Bower proclaimed that the "Triassic period began about 20 million years ago, and the Jurassic period began 210 million years ago"(1986). During the Mesozoic, or "Middle Life" Era, life diversified rapidly and giant reptiles, dinosaurs and other monstrous beasts roamed the Earth. The period, which spans from about 252 million years ago to about 66 million years ago, was also known as the age of reptiles (Ghose 2013). There is little supporting evidence that plant life is truly from the early Jurassic time frame, however, Brannan's research suggests "At the beginning of the Jurassic period the Earth saw the disappearance of seed-fern floras but the gymnosperms and true ferns were thriving"(Brannan 2012). Early Jurassic- The Liassic Epoch (176 to 200 mya) • Brought much warmer/wetter rainforest climate • Marine reptiles evolved such as, Ichthyosaurus, Temnodontosaurus, Euycleidus. • Terrestrial animals made an appearance such as the Stegosaurs, Tetanurae, Berberosaurus, Heterdonosaurids. In the Early Jurassic, the Colorado Plateau region again became arid and the eolian sandstones record zonal as well as monsoonal circulation (Parrish 1993). Following the dramatic decline, ichthyosaur diversity increased...
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...generation regards the possibility of a forthcoming, human-induced mass extinction event and what it’s effects would be upon the evolution rate of species. In the search for understanding this possibility and its effects, scientists must look to the past where it is widely accepted that there have been 5 previous periods of mass extinction. The term ‘mass extinction event’ is defined as any period when abnormally large numbers of species die out simultaneously or within a limited time frame. Such occurrences have been observed at 5 places in history- the Ordovician-Silurian, Late Devonian, Permian, Triassic Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. What was the cause of these extinction periods? Well... no one can say for sure. Although there are a number of plausible hypotheses, the sheer amount of time and space between today and the events in question makes it very difficult to place a theory as anything more than conjecture. In saying this, it is known that these cataclysms were random occurrences and not caused by the actions of any one single species. The extinction of species is not normally considered an important element of Neodarwinian theory, in contrast to the opposite phenomenon, speciation. In the wake of mass extinction periods, the fossil records provide an accurate and reliable source of information invaluable to the study of evolution. Today, there is evidence mounting to suggest that the sixth mass extinction may be beginning- but the apocalypse this time is us. Human activities...
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...The extinction of dinosaurs can be seen as a lot of speculation. In “Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs” Stephen Jay Gould explains how “science, is a fruitful mode of inquiry, not a list of enticing conclusions.” (Gould, 216). What makes something speculation and not science, which of the three theories are speculation, and what makes Gould question the theories. In “Sex, Drugs, Disasters, and the Extinction of Dinosaurs” Gould explains the differences of science and speculation. Science starts with a hypothesis and from there the scientist looks for evidence to back up his or her hypothesis. This evidence helps give the hypothesis validity and also allows other scientists to test said hypothesis. Gould states that “We can never be completely sure that a...
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...Review the theories put forward in the literature that attempt to explain why there was a mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous period. You should aim to outline the main theories, the claims they make, briefly explain any supporting evidence, and compare and contrast the rival theories. Reasons for the Cretaceous mass extinction have been hotly debated for more than 200 years, since the founding days of geology. Cretaceous mass extinction is referred to the mass extinction that happened in the period of Cretaceous (just after Jurassic), more than 100 million years ago. Many creatures, especially dinosaurs, disappeared in the end of Cretaceous. K-T layer which marks the boundary between the Cretaceous and the Tertiary becomes the key point for the solutions. Till now, four main theories which are gradualism, supernova, volcanism and cosmic impact, have been put forward to solve the scientific problem. And, the last three models belong to catastrophism in favor of sudden extinctions, opposite to gradualism. However, this essay will attempt to argue that cosmic impact should be the most reasonable explanation due to evidence that have been found up to now. In order to demonstrate it, this essay will analyze these different theories separately paragraph by paragraph, along with corresponding findings. In addition, it will compare rival theories. In the ‘gradualistic’ view (theory of gradualism), the Earth was a slowly evolving word and the turnover of living species...
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...huge new life form of flying dinosaurs called Pterosaurs became known. (Birds: The Late Evolution of Dinosaurs)These dinosaurs had wings of skin stretched between an enormously elongated finger and its flanks. Pterosaurs were known as the first vertebrates to take flight. About 150 million years ago, Pterosaurs were joined in the air by a more aerodynamic, featured creature, known as the bird. When the oldest known bird fossil of the Archaeopteryx was found, in the 1860s, a lot of controversy began over the evolution of birds and their relationship to dinosaurs. The Archaeopteryx had three toes armed with claws and long,...
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...Elizabeth kolbert, indicates in her book, that we are currently going through what he calls a mass extinction, what that means a whole roll of a species dies out. In her book she goes over the five extinction, and what occurred in the past and the 6th that is currently going on, and how our existences is becoming the issues of these species to go extinct. Elizabeth Kolbert finds mass extinction to be very fascinating but explains that everyone should be very aware and alarmed. She uses scientific research to show these extinctions but as well her personal viewpoints. She goes further into describing in the book that throughout our planets history, there has been five mass extinctions, due to a meteor or because of natural events that occur,...
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...In the following I will discuss the atmosphere of the late Cretaceous (end of the dinosaur era) and how it may have contributed to the extinction events that occurred at the end of this era. I will also discuss how scientists determine the composition of ancient atmospheres. The Cretaceous period was from 145 to 65.5 million years ago. You had the early cretaceous epoch and the late cretaceous epoch. Mass extinction happened and comprised of 80-90% of marine species and 85% of land species, including the dinosaurs. About half of all life-forms died out, including the dinosaurs, pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, ammonites, and many families of fish, snails, sponges, sea urchins (Benton, 2003). The meteor impact inhibited photosynthesis. The atmosphere was filled with dust cloud which blocked the sunlight for at least a year. Sulfuric acid was injected into the stratosphere. This also created a reduction in sunlight to the Earth by 20%. Because the atmosphere was filled with this acid and dust clouds the plant life and small creatures would die off. It takes at least 10 years for the atmosphere to clear itself of these pollutants. An impact such as this can also produce acid rain. There are many animals that can not handle acid rain. Therefore, this would also play a part in extinction of species. (www.tulane.edu). When it comes to how scientists determine the composition of ancient atmospheres, I found the following; “Ages of ice samples found on the Earth cover a span approaching...
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...base for living things. I decided to write about the evolution and extinction of dinosaurs because the whole idea of a species so majestic, large and powerful getting completely wiped out is somewhat of a disturbance to me. I felt that if something had wiped out an entire race of living things, then, it is a possibility that it could happen again, maybe to our own species. Dinosaurs, being one of the most exciting creatures to roam the earth are a part of what we call ‘evolution’. It is a simple and obvious fact that Dinosaurs did not suddenly come into existence two hundred million years ago. Like all living things, they evolved, slowly and gradually, from creatures that roamed the earth before them. These former creatures were primitive reptiles known as the Archosaurs. Archosaurs were not so different from dinosaurs except for the large difference in size, etc. Some Paleontologists believe that all dinosaurs evolved from one kind of Achosaur, the Lagosuchus, a quick but small reptile that lived in the forests of the early Triassic period. The Permian Extinction opened up huge swaths of evolutionary territory for the Archosaurs, some of which evolved over tens of millions of years into the dinosaurs we know and love today. As is the case with all species, the slow, winding path taken by dinosaur evolution depended on a variety of factors, including climate, competition, and the availability of food. Dinosaurs, although being extremely interesting, are but one group of animals...
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...Mitch Giliano 006 Dinosaur in the Haystack SJ Gould on-line library Dr. Gould talks about how science revolves around theories and how theories can change during any time in our research or the information we find combines with our previous theory. But how scientists today do not question theories anymore they just get in a daily habit. Dr. Gould also talks about how we don’t have all the answers today and theories can still change or be altered. To prove this Dr. Gould goes on to talk about the extinction of all the animals. He explains how Darwin rejected the theory that all of the animals died gradually instead Darwin believe in the extreme view of mass extinction. Dr. Gould goes on to tell us how this is false and that it is clear that the animals died gradually. But that Darwin’s mass extinction prevailed as we see in data records. Dr. Gould goes on to say this is because not every animal that lived fossilized in the ground in fact only small amount actually fossilized. Because of this the data that Darwin had collected looked as if the animals had died gradually. Dr. Gould also mentions Luis Alvarez’s theory but how many of Dr. Gould’s colleagues did not agree with it. But Doctor Gould pushes to look outside of the box and comes up with a new idea how we look at this. The haystack example that he says brings a good point of how we can understand the extinction of dinosaurs and look for fossils. He makes a point saying how scientists get stuck in a rhythm and look...
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