Evolution.

Evolution not extinction!!

Evidence: Many scientists believe that many of the dinosaurs simply evolved into many of the modern animals we have today rather than becoming extinct. If you look at the characteristics and anatomy of many reptiles and lizards you can see similarities between prehistoric creatures and these modern day animals. Looking at the skeletons, bone fragments and fossils of flying dinosaurs and comparing these with the birds of today there are many structural similarities, the shape of the beak the joints of the wings etc . These pieces of evidence back up the arguments that many species of dinosaur simply moved with the times and adapted!

Combined Events.
A general theory that suggests more than one factor caused the dinosaurs to be extinct. Evidence:

Fossil records and dating of bones found all point to the fact that different species of dinosaur lived at different times. This favours the idea that several different factors affected the lives and ultimately the demise of the dinosaurs. The theory takes into account differences in climate that would force species to die out as they wouldnt be able to adapt quick enough to survive in new conditions. It also allows for factors such as new diseases, less food, volcanic eruptions and orbital changes to be taken into account. The combined theory also gives weighting to the Palaeocene Theory.

The Palaeocene Theory.

This theory supports the idea of a gradual Decline in dinosaur numbers rather than a mass extinction. Evidence: The San Juan Basin in the west of America offers evidence for the idea that not all dinosaurs died at the same time. During a dig in 2001 palaeontologists found skeletal remains of three species of dinosaur whose bones were believed to have shown that non-avian species had relocated to other areas of the world (possibly after a catastrophic event) and continued to live there for many years. The bone fragments showed no signs of wear and tear, scratches, dents or other abrasions and were completely smooth which dismissed ideas that bones had been transported to the region by water. Pollen was also found close to the bones, this pollen has already been dated to a later period than the life span of dinosaurs. This helps the argument that the dinosaurs died out gradually and were not all made extinct at the same time.

10.2 Darwins Observations

An adaptations is a feature that allow an organism to better survive in its environment. Species are able to adapt to their environment. Adaptations can lead to genetic change in a population. Darwin proposed natural selection as a mechanism for evolution.

10.3 Theory of Natural Selection

Several key insights led to Darwins idea for natural selection. Darwin noticed a lot of variation in domesticated plants and animals. Artificial selection is the process by which humans select traits through breeding.

neck feathers crop tail feathers

10.3 Theory of Natural Selection

Natural selection is a mechanism by which individuals that have inherited beneficial adaptations produce more offspring on average than do other individuals. Heritability is the ability of a trait to be passed down. There is a struggle for survival due to overpopulation and limited resources. Darwin proposed that adaptations arose over many generations.

10.3 Theory of Natural Selection

Natural selection explains how evolution can occur. There are four main principles to the theory of natural selection. variation overproduction adaptation descent with modification
ADAPTATION VARIATION OVERPRODUCTION DESCENT Fitness is with the measure of survival ability and ability to MODIFICATION produce more offspring.