Scientists have several specimens from the same time period from several thousand years ago. Which two specimens should they study so that they can most easily learn about the amount of rainfall at that time and the kinds of plants that grew then?(1 point)

Responses

Fossilized Pollen
Fossilized Pollen

Foraminifera
Foraminifera

Tree rings
Tree rings

Continental rock samples
Continental rock samples

Ice cores
Ice cores

1 answer

The best specimens to study for learning about the amount of rainfall and the kinds of plants that grew during that time are Fossilized Pollen and Tree rings.

  1. Fossilized Pollen: Pollen grains provide direct evidence of the types of plants that were present at a certain time, which can give insight into the vegetation and climate conditions of that period.

  2. Tree rings: Tree rings can provide information about past climatic conditions, such as rainfall and temperature, as the growth patterns in trees are influenced by these factors. Wider rings typically indicate years of plentiful rainfall, while narrower rings can suggest drought conditions.

Together, these two specimens can give a comprehensive picture of past ecosystem dynamics and climate conditions.