CLASS 6: EARLY PALEOZOIC EVENTS AND LIFE

The Early Paleozoic Era includes the Cambrian Period (CLASS 5), followed by the Ordovician and Silurian Periods. In this class, we will concentrate on the Ordovician and Silurian times.

LIFE IN THE ORDOVICIAN

Life was good in the Ordovician if you were an aquatic burrower, swimmer or a floater.

Figure Source: University of Michigan Museum of Natural History

EARLY ORDOVICIAN

            Early Transgression and Carbonate Deposition  

LATE ORDOVICIAN

            Later- Taconic Orogeny in Eastern U.S.A.

              Regression

            1^st Land Plants

            Ordovician Extinctions: last 2 my of the Ordovician               

SILURIAN- 440-400 Ma

            Transgression

            1^st Jawed Fish

            1^st Air breathing Arthropods

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