STEM_BIO11/

LESSON 4: Earth Geologic Time Scale 12-IIIc-g-8

QUARTER 3 | S.Y. 2024-2025

Macroevolution Geologic Time Scale

- By studying the fossil records in rock strata, - Geologic time scales were establish using
scientist gain a glimpse of long evolutionary the evidences from the sequence of fossils
history. embedded from each layers of
- This evolutionary history depicts major sedimentary rocks.
changes of life on Earth called - The largest time span of the geologic time
macroevolution. scale is the eon.
- Macroevolution includes the creation of - It is an indefinitely long period of time that
biological diversity through speciation but contains at least two eras.
also encompasses different evidences of life - Geologic time is divided into two eons.
from the different geologic time scales. - The more ancient eon is called the
Precambrian, and the more recent is the
Phanerozoic. Each eon is subdivided into
smaller spans called eras.
Precambrian Eons
The Precambrian eon is divided from most ancient into the Hadean era, Archean era, and Proterozoic
era.
Hadean Era 4.6 billion years ago to roughly 3.8 billion years ago
3.8 – 2.5 billion years ago
Started off very hot
Lots of volcanic activity and eruptions/; existence of protocontinents
Archean Era The planet begun to cool and water vapor condenses to form rain.
The atmosphere is made up of methane gas, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide but
no free oxygen gas.
Stromatolites existed and other bacterial cells
2.5 billion years ago to 542 million years ago
An eon that spans for three eras; namely Paleoproterozoic, Mesoproterozoic
and Neoproterozoic.
Proterozoic Era Massive and rapid continental accretion
Increase in atmospheric oxygen
Herbivorous eukaryotes (algae)
First glaciation

In the latter part of the Precambrian eons, - An era is often divided into several
single-celled and simple multicellular organisms smaller time spans called periods.
first developed. There are many fossils from this - Among the three eras of the Phanerozoic
time because the sea-dwelling creatures were eon, the Paleozoic era is the longest and
trapped in sediments and preserved. diverse, it takes almost half of the
Phanerozoic eons. It started 300 million
Phanerozoic Eons years ago.
- The Phanerozoic eon is subdivided into three - The Paleozoic era is divided into the
eras – the Paleozoic era, Mesozoic era, and Cambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian,
Cenozoic era. Carboniferous, and Permian periods.

1. The Paleozoic Era

300 – 250 million years ago
All the major land masses collided to form the supercontinent “Pangea”
Temperatures were extreme and the climate was dry
Permian Period
Plants and animals evolved adaptations to dryness, such as waxy leaves or
leathery skins to prevent water loss
This period ends with a mass extinction of organisms
Carboniferous Period 350 – 300million years ago
Widespread forest of large plants left massive deposits of carbon that eventually
turned into coal and crude oil
STEM_BIO11/
LESSON 4: Earth Geologic Time Scale 12-IIIc-g-8
QUARTER 3 | S.Y. 2024-2025

First amphibian evolve and lived in water and land

First reptile evolved. They were the first animals that can reproduce on dry land
400 – 350 million years ago
The first seed plant evolved. Seed plants have a protective seed coat and stored
Devonian Period food in their cotyledon to survive. Eventually, plants that bears seeds become
the most common type of plants in land
Fish with lobe fins evolved. They could breath-in air out from water.
450 – 400 million years ago
In the ocean corals appear and fish continuous to evolved
Silurian Period On land vascular plants evolve and they grow bigger than the existing non-
vascular plants. They developed specialized tissues use by the plants to
distribute water and other materials
500- 450 million years ago
The oceans are filled with invertebrate animals.
Ordavician Period
Plants dominate the land while most of the animals remained in the water.
The first fish evolved
550 – 500 million years ago
Following the Precambrian mass extinction there was an explosion of new
Cambrian Period organisms in the Cambrian period.
Sponges evolved
Small invertebrates like the Trilobites were very abundant.

2. The Mesozoic Era

- The Mesozoic Era contains the Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. It known as the Age of the
Dinosaurs because of its famous inhabitants.
150 -65 million years ago
Dinosaurs reach their peak and distributions
Cretaceous Period The continent was close to the current position as they are right now. Earth’s
climate is warm and poles lacked ice caps
Extinction of dinosaurs
200 – 150 million years ago
This is the golden age of the dinosaurs, whereas the dinosaurs’ species
flourish.
The earliest bird evolved from reptile ancestors
Jurassic Period
Major group of mammals evolved while individual mammals remains small in size
Flowering plants appear and new insects evolved to pollinate
the flowers.

250 – 200 million years ago

The first dinosaurs branched off from the reptiles and they colonized the
land, water and air.
Triassic Period
Huge seed ferns and conifers dominated the forest.
Modern corals, fish and insects evolved
Pangea started to separate into Laurasia

3. Cenozoic Era - The Tertiary period of the Cenozoic era

- The two periods of the Cenozoic Era are the is comprised of the Paleocene, Eocene,
Tertiary and Quaternary. Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene.
- A period is divided into an even smaller - The Quaternary period of the Cenozoic
unit called an epoch. era includes the Pleistocene and Holocene
(Recent) epochs.

2 million years ago -present

Quaternary Period
Halocene (present) 0.01million years ago – present
STEM_BIO11/
LESSON 4: Earth Geologic Time Scale 12-IIIc-g-8
QUARTER 3 | S.Y. 2024-2025

Pleistocene 2 – 0.01 million years ago

65- 0,01 million years ago
Pliocene 5 – 2 million years ago
Miocene 25 – 5 million years ago
Tertiary Period
Oliogocene 35 – 25 million years ago
Eocene 55 – 35 million years ago
Paleocene 65 – 55 million years ago

Quaternary Period

- During this time the Earth’s climate cooled,

leading to a series of ice ages. Sea levels fell
because so much water was frozen in
glaciers. This created land bridges between
continents, allowing land animals to move to
new areas.
- Some mammals, like the woolly mammoths
adapted to the cold by evolving very large
size and thick fur.
- Other animals moved closer to the equator
or went extinct, along with many plants.
- The last ice age ended about 12,000 years
ago. By that time, our own species, Homo
sapiens, had evolved.
- After that, we were witnesses to the
unfolding of life’s story. Although we don’t
know all the details of the recent past, it is
far less of a mystery than the billions of
years that preceded it.

Tertiary Period

- During the Tertiary period, Earth’s climate

was generally warm and humid.
- Mammals evolved to fill virtually all niches
vacated by dinosaurs.
- Many mammals increased in size.
- Mammals called primates evolved,
including human ancestors.
- Modern rain forests and grasslands
appeared, and flowering plants and insects
were numerous and widespread.