Final answer:
Paleontologists infer processes like speciation from patterns in geological data, using techniques like relative dating and thermoluminescence to date fossils and understand past events.
Step-by-step explanation:
In paleontology, processes such as speciation and extinction are often inferred from the pattern seen in the fossil record. Paleontologists use relative dating techniques to determine the geological ages of fossils. This allows them to calculate rates of speciation and correlate them with events such as mass extinctions.
For example, a layer containing fossils which signifies a stark difference in biodiversity from the layers above and below it might suggest a mass extinction event. Critical thinking is applied to analyze whether these fossils may belong to organisms that no longer exist. Moreover, adaptive radiation, which is a burst of speciation, might follow such a mass extinction.
Understanding biogeography, biodiversity, and biogeomorphology play vital roles in paleontological studies. For instance, events such as logging a forest (an anthropogenic activity) can affect biodiversity and geological patterns. Furthermore, techniques like thermoluminescence dating allow for absolute dating of fossils or sediments subjected to high temperatures, like those near a volcanic eruption.