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Sometimes a fossil is formed as a result of the movement of an organism in soft sediment. Which are two kinds of trace fossils?

A) Shells and bones
B) Tracks and burrows
C) A bee and a beetle in amber
D) Petrified and mummified fossils

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Trace fossils include tracks and burrows created by the movements of organisms in soft sediment. They provide insights into the behavior and environment of ancient organisms. The mentioned correct option is B) Tracks and Burrows.

Step-by-step explanation:

Two kinds of trace fossils that result from the movement of an organism in soft sediment are tracks and burrows. Tracks are the footprints or other marks left by organisms as they move across the substrate. Burrows, on the other hand, are holes or tunnels dug by organisms, which may be preserved as sediment fills and hardens around them. Trace fossils like ichnofacies and coprolites are important for understanding the paleoenvironment and the behavior of ancient organisms.

As we can see from these trace fossils, paleontologists can glean valuable information about the conditions in which these organisms lived.

They can understand factors such as water depth, salinity, and even the behavior of organisms based on the type and orientation of the burrows. Additionally, tracks can indicate the activity and sometimes even the speed of the organism at the time they were made.

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