Mission 2: Jurassic Period - Captain Lucasaurus

🎯 YOUR TWO BIG RESEARCH QUESTIONS

Focus: The Triassic-Jurassic Extinction and Dinosaur Dominance

What extinction event ended the Triassic and started the Jurassic?
- What percentage of species died?
- What might have caused it? (Volcanic activity? Climate shift?)
- How long did the transition take?
How did this extinction help dinosaurs become DOMINANT?
- Which groups of animals died out?
- Which dinosaur groups survived and thrived?
- What made dinosaurs more successful than other reptiles now?
- Did this mark the end of archosaur dominance?

Focus: Warm, Wet Climate and GIANT Sauropods

What was the climate like in the Jurassic?
- Was it warmer or cooler than the Triassic?
- Was it much WETTER? Why?
- What happened to sea levels?
- Were there still deserts or was Earth greener?
How did the warm, wet climate allow GIANT dinosaurs to evolve?
- Why could sauropods grow SO HUGE in the Jurassic?
- What role did increased rainfall play in plant growth?
- How did abundant plant life support massive herbivores?
- Did bigger herbivores lead to bigger carnivores? How?
- Compare: Why couldn't dinosaurs get this big in the Triassic?
How did continental breakup affect climate and evolution?
- When Pangaea split, did ocean currents change?
- Did splitting continents create more coastal areas with milder climates?
- Did different continents start having different dinosaur species?

What did Earth look like? Did Pangaea stay together or start breaking apart? What two new supercontinents formed?
What plants were most common? Were there flowers yet? What were gymnosperms?
What about the first birds? When did they appear? What's the most famous early bird?

Find and research 7 Jurassic dinosaurs that include:

At least 2 from different sauropod families (e.g., Diplodocidae, Brachiosauridae, Mamenchisauridae)
At least 2 theropods from different families
At least 1 stegosaur
At least 1 from the Morrison Formation (North America)
At least 1 from the Tendaguru Formation (Africa)

BONUS Expert Questions: