Place the following events in chronological order with the earliest (oldest) event first: Drag the left blocks below into their correct order: Nonvascular land plants and jawless fish evolve. Jawed fish dominate ocean life. Seed plants and insects appear. Gymnosperms appear. Reptiles evolve. Dinosaurs rule the Earth as flowering plants evolve. Grasslands spread. The first mammals evolve as conifers and cycads dominate. Modern humans appear as the Ice Age dawns. Modern-day mammals appear. Hominids first appear.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Here is the correct chronological order of the events:
- Nonvascular land plants and jawless fish evolve
- Jawed fish dominate ocean life
- Seed plants and insects appear
- Gymnosperms appear
- Reptiles evolve
- Dinosaurs rule the Earth as flowering plants evolve
- The first mammals evolve as conifers and cycads dominate
- Grasslands spread
- Hominids first appear
- Modern humans appear as the Ice Age dawns
- Modern-day mammals appear
Explanation:
Life on Earth began in the oceans, and the earliest vertebrates included jawless fish. Simultaneously, nonvascular land plants like mosses colonized terrestrial environments. As evolution progressed, jawed fish replaced jawless fish as the dominant marine vertebrates, developing stronger skeletal structures that improved survival.
The rise of seed plants, along with insects, marked a significant shift in plant reproduction and ecological interactions. Unlike spores, seeds offered a more resilient method for spreading genetic material, while insects contributed to pollination. Gymnosperms, which bear naked seeds, evolved shortly after.
The emergence of reptiles signified a major breakthrough in terrestrial adaptation, as they could reproduce away from water. Later, dinosaurs became the most dominant land creatures, coinciding with the evolution of flowering plants, which enabled efficient seed dispersal.
Mammals first appeared while conifers and cycads dominated ancient forests. These early mammals were small and mostly nocturnal. Over time, grasslands expanded, altering ecosystems and influencing species development.
The appearance of hominids marked the beginning of human ancestry. Eventually, modern humans evolved during the Ice Age, demonstrating advanced cognitive abilities and complex societal structures. Modern-day mammals diversified further, adapting to a wide range of environments, shaping today’s biodiversity.
This sequence illustrates the long and intricate history of life on Earth, showing how environmental changes and evolutionary adaptations influenced species development.
