What Factors Increase An Organism's Preservation Potential?

What factors increase this organism's preservation potential?

A clam has dug a hole for itself in the sand in shallow ocean water.

Answer explanation

The clam "dug a hole for itself" which means it gently "buried" itself in a burrow.

When an animal dies in a burrow, it is the most rapid burial possible.

The clam's shell is hard.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

What factors increase this organism's preservation potential?

A live mammoth sinks completely into a soft tar pit.

Answer explanation

This mammoth was buried alive, which means it was already buried when it died (rapid / gentle).

It sank into a tar pit. Tar is made from organic matter (ancient decomposed organisms) and low in oxygen.

Mammoths had hard parts like bones and tusks.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What factors increase this organism's preservation potential?

A jellyfish sinks to the bottom of the deep ocean.

Answer explanation

It will take a long time for the jellyfish's body to sink to the bottom of the ocean. It may be destroyed or eaten before it reaches the ocean floor.

The jellyfish is made of only soft parts that decompose easily.

The bottom of the ocean is low in oxygen.

What factors increase this organism's preservation potential?

A tree falls in a forest and is buried over time in leaves and moss.

Answer explanation

It will take a long time for the tree to become completely covered in organic matter (leaves / moss).

The organic matter will steal all of the oxygen around the tree and it will not decay much.

The tree's body is made of hard wood.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

What factors increase this organism's preservation potential?

After a volcanic eruption, a sheep is completely buried by layers of ash.

Answer explanation

Ash falls quickly after an eruption but is soft and will not crush or destroy the sheep's body.

The sheep have hard parts (bones).

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1

Does each organism have a low or high preservation potential?

Groups:

(a) Low Preservation Potential

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(b) High Preservation Potential

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Answer explanation

Low Preservation Potential:

The pig will decompose in the open field and may be crushed or eaten before burial.

The jellyfish has only soft parts and may also be destroyed or eaten before burial.

The deer skeleton is under a cliff where rocks may fall and crush it.

High Preservation Potential:

The rabbit is alive and in it's burrow.

The snapping turtle has a hard shell.

The tree is covered in organic matter and not exposed to a lot of oxygen. The tree is made of hard wood.

Tags

NGSS.MS-LS4-1