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Question
- preservation bias refers to the fact that paleontologists only collect the fossils they like most past organisms being soft bodied leading to very low fossilization rates geologic processes have destroyed most older fossils so the bias is towards more recent fossils the fossil record showing organisms that had a better chance of becoming fossils because of their body type and location
Preservation bias occurs because the fossil record is not a complete representation of all past organisms. Organisms with hard - parts (like shells, bones) and those living in environments conducive to fossilization (such as areas with sediment deposition) are more likely to be preserved. Soft - bodied organisms or those in environments where decomposition is rapid (e.g., in the open ocean with strong currents) are less likely to fossilize. This means the fossil record is biased towards organisms that had a better chance of becoming fossils due to their body type (hard - parts vs soft - parts) and their location (environments that favor fossilization).
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the fossil record showing organisms that had a better chance of becoming fossils because of their body type and location.