Science Dinosaurs & Paleontology Procedural 12–14 yrs

Reconstructing Ancient Ecosystems

重建远古生态系统

Description

Reconstruct an ancient ecosystem using multiple independent lines of evidence: isotope analysis of teeth to infer diet and migration, bone histology (growth rings) to estimate age and growth rate, coprolite chemistry for diet, and palaeobotany for habitat — understanding that palaeontology is an evidence-synthesis discipline

Mastery Evidence

✓ Explains how stable oxygen isotope ratios in teeth shift with geographic location, allowing detection of seasonal migration
✓ Explains how annual growth rings in bone cross-sections reveal growth rate and approximate age at death
✓ Describes how combining evidence from teeth isotopes, coprolites, and fossil plant assemblages builds a richer picture of ancient ecology than any single source alone

Assessment Prompt

If your child was asked how scientists know a large dinosaur migrated hundreds of kilometres every year, could they explain what kind of evidence they look for and how they rule out alternative explanations?