Final answer:
From the Precambrian to the Cenozoic eras, the environment of Maryland changed significantly. The Tertiary period was characterized by a warm and humid climate, which allowed mammals to evolve and occupy various niches. In the Quaternary period, the climate cooled and underwent a series of ice ages, leading to changes in sea levels and animal adaptations.
Step-by-step explanation:
From the Precambrian to the Cenozoic eras, the environment of Maryland went through several changes. During the Tertiary period, which occurred from 65-1.8 million years ago, the climate of Earth was generally warm and humid, allowing for the evolution and diversification of mammals. Modern rainforests and grasslands appeared, and flowering plants and insects were numerous and widespread. In the Quaternary period, which is from 1.8 million years ago to the present, the climate cooled and led to a series of ice ages. Sea levels fell, creating land bridges between continents and allowing land animals to move to new areas. Some animals, like woolly mammoths, adapted to the cold climate by growing larger and developing thick fur, while other animals moved closer to the equator or went extinct, along with many plants.