Why Is It That Many of the Animal Groups That

question 31

Essay

Why is it that many of the animal groups that appeared in the Cambrian period have no living relatives?

---

Definitions:

Greenhouse Gases

Gases in Earth's atmosphere that trap heat, contributing to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

Global Energy Budget

An accounting of the balance between the Earth's energy inputs from the sun and its outputs back into space, influencing climate and weather patterns.

Biodiversity

The variety and variability of life forms within a given ecosystem, bioregion, or for the entire Earth.

Coral Reefs

Biodiverse underwater ecosystems composed of densely packed colonies of coral, which are marine invertebrates.