Question

the fossil evidence found in these sedimentary layers best implies that

land plants evolved from algae
land animals evolved at the same time
vertebrates and invertebrates evolved together
land plants evolved after marine animals

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze the sedimentary layers (older layers are lower). Layer 4 has marine invertebrates, layer 3 has marine invertebrates, layer 2 has marine vertebrates (fish), and layer 1 has land plants. So land plants (layer 1, youngest) appear after marine animals (layers 2 - 4, older). Other options: "land plants evolved from algae" has no algae fossils here; "land animals evolved at the same time" – no land animals shown; "vertebrates and invertebrates evolved together" – vertebrates (fish in layer 2) are younger than invertebrates (layers 3 - 4), so not together. Thus, the best implication is land plants evolved after marine animals.

Answer:

land plants evolved after marine animals