5. Mesozoic Era & Gymnosperms
Dominance of gymnosperms (300-150 Ma)
Lecture Resources
Session 5 Notes
Narrative
Extinction and Seed Plants (300-230 mya)
Ginkgoes, Dinos, and Seed Cones (230-140 mya)
Geologic Time
Portion of the Mesozoic Era
Jurassic Period (200-146 Ma)
Triassic Period (251-200 Ma)
Portion of the Paleozoic Era
Permian Period (299-251 Ma)
Plant groups involved
Ginkgophytes (e.g. Ginkgo)
Conifers (cone-bearing trees)
Gnetophytes (e.g. Ephedra, Welwitschia)
Events of Notes
Rise and dominance of conifers
Diversification of ginkgophytes
Origin of anthophyte gymnosperms
Origin of modern ferns (Polypodiales)
Origin of the gnetophytes
The first "flower" (Bennettitales)
Origin of angiosperms (?)
Rise of the dinosaurs
Questions for Thought
How are the progymnosperms evolutionarily significant?
What is the impact of plants evolving secondary xylem?
What evidence is missing about Devonian seed plants?
What niche did seed plants fill during the Carboniferous?
How did pollination occur in the Lyginopterids?
What evidence of insect-pollination exists in the Paleozoic?
In what ways are ginkgophytes conifer-like and angiosperm-like?
How did conifers evolve during the Paleozoic?
How are conifers adapted to arid conditions?
How did fossil plants provide evidence for the idea of plate tectonics?
