Final answer:
Scientists use evidence of past environments in rocks to confirm changes in different places and whether an organism could have lived where its fossils are found.
Step-by-step explanation:
Scientists use evidence of past environments preserved in rock to confirm two main things:
- To confirm that conditions in different places have changed: By studying the fossils and rock layers, scientists can determine how the environment has changed over time. For example, they can see shifts in climate, changes in sea levels, and the presence or absence of certain organisms.
- To confirm whether an organism could have lived where its fossils are found: Scientists can analyze the rocks surrounding a fossil to determine the environment in which the organism lived. They can also examine the characteristics of the fossil itself to infer whether the organism could have survived in that particular environment.
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