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ERESE Student Log
Question
 How would you determine that the continents were once connected as a single land mass?
Hypothesis
 Fossil deposition patterns or fossil locations on different continents can be used to determine if the continents were connected as a single land mass.
Data
 Picture of  distribution of fossils across the southern continents of Pangea.
Picture of Pangea.
Picture of Glossopters and Mesasaurus fossil patterns on Southern continents of Pangea.
Pictures and information on  Mesosaurus, Glossopteris, Cynognathus, Lystrosaurus.
Geological time periods.


Methodolgy
Search ERESE lab report matrix, and the Earthref.org database to find data to support hypothesis. After searching these databases, if more information is still needed search the world wide web using a search engine like google. Some of the key items that need to be addressed are plate tectonic fossils, fossil evidence, Mesosaurus, Glossopteris, Cynognathus, Lystrosaurus.
Data Analysis
Species of fossils Time period they lived in Continents fossils were found in
Mesosaurus 260 mya Permian
 S. Africa, S.America,
Glossosteris 248 mya Permian- Triassic
India,S. America,S. Africa, Austrialia
Lystrosaurus 240 mya  Early Triassic
 Antartica, India, Africa
Cynognathus 245-230 mya Middle Triassic
 S. Africa, Argentina

Could these plants/animals have crossed the ocean?

nGlossopteris: No, because the seeds were too heavy to be carried by the wind and too fragile to float across the Atlantic Ocean.

nMesosaurus: No,because this reptile was too small to attempt to swim across such a great distance.

nCynognathus: No, because this reptile would be unable to survive swimming for that amount of time.
nLystrosaurus: No, because this reptile survives on roots and could not survive the
 vast ocean without food.


Results
Since each species of fossils were found to be the same age at different locations and the probability of each species traveling over one or more oceans is slim to none, the depositions patterns of the fossils supports the theory that Pangaea did exist as a single land mass at one point in time
Conclusion
Continents were once a single land mass can be supported by examining the fossil deposition or fossil locations on different continents. 


Application


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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