Final answer:
The size of the Tamiami Formation is not directly affected by the creation of new fossils. Fossilization processes and the discovery of new fossils might lead to changes in stratigraphic interpretation but not to the formation's actual size, which is influenced by erosional and tectonic processes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Tamiami Formation is a geologic formation that includes sediments and fossils dating back to the Pliocene and Pleistocene epochs.
When assessing whether this formation is shrinking in size as new fossils are created, it's important to understand that geologic formations are typically recognized by their lithological characteristics and stratigraphic context rather than their size, which can be affected by a variety of erosional and tectonic processes rather than fossil creation per se.
Fossil creation, or fossilization, is a process through which organic materials are preserved over geologic time scales.
This involves the replacement of organic materials with minerals, the formation of impressions or casts, or the preservation of more durable parts such as bones or shells.
The creation of new fossils does not necessarily correlate with a change in the size of the formation.
However, the stratigraphic record, including formations, can be influenced by erosional processes that can remove existing material, including fossils.
Fossils are important for understanding ancient environments and biological evolution. As evidence of past life, fossils can be used for relative dating of rock layers and can indicate changes in environment over time.
It is possible that the recognized boundaries of geologic formations like the Tamiami can change with new discoveries; however, this would be due to revised stratigraphic interpretations rather than the addition of new fossils.