Final answer:
Land plants appeared over 500 million years ago, followed by insects 400 million years ago and vertebrates around 300 million years ago. Amphibians were the first vertebrates on land during the Carboniferous Period, and the Triassic Period saw the rise of the first dinosaurs.
Step-by-step explanation:
Evolution of Plants, Insects, and Vertebrates
Land plants, insects, and vertebrates first appeared during distinct geological times throughout the Earth’s history. The first evidence of land plant colonization occurred over 500 million years ago, with ancestors of modern land plants making their appearance. Insects and other arthropods followed, venturing onto land roughly 400 million years ago. The progression of vertebrate evolution began in the water with fish and moved onto land with the emergence of amphibians about 300 million years ago. This was further followed by the development of amniotes, from which mammals emerged around 200 million years ago, and eventually birds around 150 million years ago.
During the Carboniferous Period, which lasted from 360-290 million years ago, the evolution of amphibians and the evolution of reptiles took place. These periods saw the formation of the first forests and laid the groundwork for the vast biological diversity we observe today. The Triassic Period (245–200 million years ago) was noteworthy for the rise of the first dinosaurs from reptiles, and the diversification of plants and animals, with amphibians being the earliest vertebrates to transition from aquatic to terrestrial life.
It is crucial to note that while plants provided the necessary environment for animals to transition to land, the animals themselves required significant anatomical adaptations. These adaptations included the development of a resistant outer skin, ways to breathe atmospheric oxygen, and specialized limbs for movement on land. Thus, the first animals likely to colonize land were invertebrates, specifically arthropods, followed by vertebrate amphibians that evolved necessary adaptations to live outside water.