How has life on earth changed over time

Our restless Earth is always changing. Tectonic plates drift, the crust quakes, and volcanoes erupt. Air pressure falls, storms form, and precipitation results. Learn how these powerful forces shape our air, land, water, and weather—and constantly transform our planet.

Adaptations develop from variations within a population and help organisms to survive in their given environment. Changes in populations accumulate over time; this is called evolution. The fossil record shows us that present day life forms evolved from earlier different life forms.

Adaptations are favorable traits that organisms inherit. Adaptations develop from variations within a population and help organisms to survive in their given environment.

Changes in populations accumulate over time; this is called evolution.

The fossil record shows us that present day life forms evolved from earlier different life forms. It shows us that the first organisms on Earth were simple bacteria that dominated the Earth for several billion years.

Beginning about 540 million years ago more complex organisms developed on Earth. During the Phanerozoic Eon all of the plant and animal types we know today have evolved.

Many types of organisms that once lived are now extinct. Eart’s overall environment, especially the climate, has changed many times, and organisms change too over time.

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