Question

A scientist finds a snail fossil in a layer of rock in a desert which action would help the scientist determine what the environmental conditions may have been when the snail existed?

Answer 1

To determine the snail fossil's environmental conditions, the scientist can study the fossil's paleoenvironment. They can examine physical and chemical conditions and look for other fossil evidence in sedimentary layers near bodies of water.

Step-by-step explanation:

To determine the environmental conditions when the snail fossil existed, the scientist can study the fossil's paleoenvironment. They can examine physical conditions like temperature, light, water depth, and energy, as well as chemical conditions such as salinity, pH, oxygen, and toxic chemicals. By looking at the sedimentary layers next to bodies of water, the scientist can find marine fossils of bivalves and trilobites, which can provide insights into the past environment.