Using relative dating methods, principles of stratigraphy, and index fossils, what can be inferred about rock sample above? (1 point) Responses

Question

Presently, the environment is aquatic but in past geological eras the terrain required climbing.
In the past, the environment was aquatic but over time the environment changed to a terrain that required climbing.
All three layers are a part of the same geological era.
All three layers are from different geological eras, but the environment did not change between each era.

Answer 1

Based on the information provided, the best inference about the rock sample would be:

In the past, the environment was aquatic but over time the environment changed to a terrain that required climbing.

This conclusion can be drawn if, for instance, the rock layers show evidence of both aquatic environments (like sedimentary rocks formed in water) and terrestrial features (like layers of rock indicative of land or climbing terrain). The principles of stratigraphy would support the idea of a transition in environments over geological time.