The Mystery of the The Mystery of the Pangaea PuzzlePangaea Puzzle

Pangaea GamPangaea Gamee

IntentIntentFor students to discover the For students to discover the evidence that supports plate evidence that supports plate tectonics based on the model tectonics based on the model

of Pangaea.of Pangaea.

Researchable QuestionResearchable Question

How would you How would you determine that determine that the continents the continents

were once were once connected as a connected as a

single land single land mass?mass?

HypothesisHypothesis

Fossil deposition patterns, Fossil deposition patterns, or fossil locations, on or fossil locations, on

different continents can different continents can be used to be used to

determine if the determine if the continents were continents were

connected as connected as Pangaea.Pangaea.

Experimental DesignExperimental Design Search ERESE lab report matrix, and the Earthref.org database to Search ERESE lab report matrix, and the Earthref.org database to

find data to support hypothesis. After searching these databases, find data to support hypothesis. After searching these databases, if more information is still needed search the world wide web if more information is still needed search the world wide web using a search engine like google. Some of the key items that using a search engine like google. Some of the key items that need to be addressed are plate tectonic fossils, fossil evidence, need to be addressed are plate tectonic fossils, fossil evidence, http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/plate_tectonics/phttp://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/plate_tectonics/part3.htmlart3.html

http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pagaea/evidence.htmlhttp://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pagaea/evidence.html http://wwwshs1.bham.wednet.edu/curric/science/geophys/james/phttp://wwwshs1.bham.wednet.edu/curric/science/geophys/james/p

an4.htman4.htm http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/glossary/cohttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/dinosaurs/glossary/co

ntdrift.shtmlntdrift.shtml Then we went back to the Google search engine and searched for Then we went back to the Google search engine and searched for

Mesosaurus, Glossopteris, Cynognathus, Lystrosaurus Mesosaurus, Glossopteris, Cynognathus, Lystrosaurus and viewed and viewed the available links.the available links.

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/therapsids/cynognathhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/therapsids/cynognathus.shtmlus.shtml

http://www.mathematical.com/dinolystrosaur.htmlhttp://www.mathematical.com/dinolystrosaur.html

DataData

Fossils of species such as Glossopteris, Mesosaurus,

Cynognathus, and Lystrosaurus were found on

different continents. When the continents are

reassembled into Pangaea,

the fossils of these species

are accounted for over a

smaller geographical area.

Continental Drift - Fossils

DataData

The Plants and Animals The Plants and Animals MatchMatch

Wegener saw that plant fossils were found on Wegener saw that plant fossils were found on several different continents and were quite several different continents and were quite different, which means that they could have different, which means that they could have evolved together on a single land mass.evolved together on a single land mass.

Certain plant and animal fossils were found on Certain plant and animal fossils were found on the matching coastlines of South America and the matching coastlines of South America and Africa, which are presently separated by the Africa, which are presently separated by the Atlantic Ocean.Atlantic Ocean.

S. America Africa

DataData

Fossil EvidenceFossil Evidence

In the Upper Triassic sediments, the Glossopteris and

Mesosaurus were found in western North America and

South Africa.

In 1973, Chinese fossil specialists discovered Cynognathus fossils in Peking, China, forcing a link between North West China with South America and South Africa.

DataData

Glossopteris “tongue”Glossopteris “tongue”

Extinct seed fernExtinct seed fern Tongue-like leavesTongue-like leaves 12 ft. tall12 ft. tall Found in India, South America, Found in India, South America,

southern Africa, Australia,southern Africa, Australia,

and Antarctica (Southern Hemisphere)and Antarctica (Southern Hemisphere) Dominant plant of GondwanaDominant plant of Gondwana Eduard Suess thought “Land Bridge!”Eduard Suess thought “Land Bridge!”

DataData

Mesosaurus “middle lizard”Mesosaurus “middle lizard”

Primitive reptile that returned to water 300 million Primitive reptile that returned to water 300 million years ago after adapted to landyears ago after adapted to land

One of the first aquatic reptilesOne of the first aquatic reptiles Found in South Africa, and South AmericaFound in South Africa, and South America

Fresh-water reptileFresh-water reptile Lightly-built, four legs, elongated Lightly-built, four legs, elongated

head and snout with nostrils near head and snout with nostrils near its eyesits eyes

Flattened tail for swimmingFlattened tail for swimming 1.5 ft. long1.5 ft. long Carnivore that ate fish and shrimpCarnivore that ate fish and shrimp

DataData

Cynognathus “dog jaw”Cynognathus “dog jaw”

Mammal-like reptileMammal-like reptile Lived in open plainsLived in open plains Warm-bloodedWarm-blooded Possible birth to live Possible birth to live

youngyoung Fast-moving carnivoreFast-moving carnivore Powerful jaws and dog-Powerful jaws and dog-

like teethlike teeth Hunted herbivores in Hunted herbivores in

packspacks

Walked on four legsWalked on four legs Flat-footedFlat-footed Tail shorter than most Tail shorter than most Size of a wolfSize of a wolf 5 ft long5 ft long Skull was 1 ft longSkull was 1 ft long Skin may have been Skin may have been

covered with haircovered with hair Found in South Africa and Found in South Africa and

ArgentinaArgentina

DataData

Lystrosaurus georgi “shovel Lystrosaurus georgi “shovel reptile”reptile”

Mammal-like reptileMammal-like reptile Size of a small dogSize of a small dog Teeth reduced to a pair of tuskTeeth reduced to a pair of tusk HerbivoreHerbivore Snout turned downSnout turned down Nostrils and eye sockets placed near top of headNostrils and eye sockets placed near top of head Teeth and jaws placed lowTeeth and jaws placed low

Amphibious feeder (hippo)Amphibious feeder (hippo) Coastal environments of rare Coastal environments of rare

continental basinscontinental basins Dug up roots with teethDug up roots with teeth Wide paws (can walk in boggy Wide paws (can walk in boggy

places )places )

DataData

FossilFossil Period Period

(mil. yrs. ago)(mil. yrs. ago)

MesosaurusMesosaurus Permian Permian

(260)(260)

LythosaurusLythosaurus Early Triassic Early Triassic (240)(240)

CynognathusCynognathus Middle Triassic Middle Triassic (230-245)(230-245)

GlossopterisGlossopteris Permian-Triassic Permian-Triassic (248- 206)(248- 206)

Data AnalysisData Analysis

Species of fossilsTime period they

lived inContinents fossils were found

in

Mesosaurus 260 mya Permian S. Africa, S. America,

Glossosteris248 mya Permian-

TriassicIndia, S. America, S. Africa,

Australia

Lystrosaurus240 mya Early

Triassic Antarctica, India, Africa

Cynognathus245-230 mya Middle

Triassic S. Africa, Argentina

Data AnalysisData Analysis

Could these plants/animals have Could these plants/animals have crossed the ocean?crossed the ocean?

Glossopteris: Glossopteris: No, No, because the seeds were because the seeds were too heavy to be carried by the wind and too too heavy to be carried by the wind and too fragile to float across the Atlantic Ocean.fragile to float across the Atlantic Ocean.

Mesosaurus: Mesosaurus: No, No, because this reptile was too because this reptile was too small to attempt to swim across such a great small to attempt to swim across such a great distance.distance.

Cynognathus:Cynognathus: No No, , because this reptile would because this reptile would be unable to survive swimming for that amount of be unable to survive swimming for that amount of time.time.

Lystrosaurus: Lystrosaurus: NoNo, , because this reptile because this reptile survives on roots and could not survive the vast survives on roots and could not survive the vast ocean without food.ocean without food.

ConclusionConclusion

Since each species of fossils were Since each species of fossils were found to be the same age at different found to be the same age at different locations and the probability of each locations and the probability of each species traveling over one or more species traveling over one or more oceans is slim to none, the oceans is slim to none, the depositions patterns of the fossils depositions patterns of the fossils supports the theory that Pangaea did supports the theory that Pangaea did exist as a single land mass at one exist as a single land mass at one point in time. point in time.

BibliographyBibliography Boyd, Kate.Fossil Evidence.Online.August 28, 2004 Boyd, Kate.Fossil Evidence.Online.August 28, 2004

http://wwwshs1.bham.wednet.edu/curric/science/geophys/james/pan4.htmhttp://wwwshs1.bham.wednet.edu/curric/science/geophys/james/pan4.htm Enchanted Learning.Cynognathus.Online.August 28, 2004 Enchanted Learning.Cynognathus.Online.August 28, 2004

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/therapsids/cynognathus.shtmlhttp://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/therapsids/cynognathus.shtml Enchanted Learning.Fossil Evidence in Support on the Enchanted Learning.Fossil Evidence in Support on the

Theory.Online.August 28, 2004 Theory.Online.August 28, 2004 http://ww.enchantedlearning.com/subjetcs/dinosaurs/glossary/contdrift.shthttp://ww.enchantedlearning.com/subjetcs/dinosaurs/glossary/contdrift.shtml>ml>

Lystrosaurus georgi.online.August 28, 2004 Lystrosaurus georgi.online.August 28, 2004 http://www.mathematical.com/dinolystrosaur.htmlhttp://www.mathematical.com/dinolystrosaur.html

Sample, Sharron.Evidence Supporting Continental Drift.Online.August 28, Sample, Sharron.Evidence Supporting Continental Drift.Online.August 28, 2004 http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/evidence.html2004 http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/evidence.html

Sample, Sharron.The Earth, 250 Million Years Ago.Online.August 28, 2004 Sample, Sharron.The Earth, 250 Million Years Ago.Online.August 28, 2004 http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/pangaea_game.htmlhttp://kids.earth.nasa.gov/archive/pangaea/pangaea_game.html

Study Guide.Online.August 28, 2004Study Guide.Online.August 28, 2004 http://www.lenoxpublicschools.org/four/sanders/study.htmhttp://www.lenoxpublicschools.org/four/sanders/study.htm University of North Dakota.Continental Drift- Fossils.Online. August 28, University of North Dakota.Continental Drift- Fossils.Online. August 28,

2004 2004 http://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/plate_tectonics/part3.htmlhttp://volcano.und.nodak.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/plate_tectonics/part3.html

Watson, Jim.usgs.Online.August 26,2004Watson, Jim.usgs.Online.August 26,2004 http://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/continents.htmlhttp://pubs.usgs.gov/publications/text/continents.html

This project was by:This project was by:

LaShae HartLaShae HartJillian HelmsJillian HelmsAshley KingAshley King

Joelle SwartzJoelle Swartz