Be able to describe how marine life evolved in the Paleogene after the terminal Cretaceous extinction eliminated many marine species.
Know how terrestrial plants evolved in the Paleogene.
Be able to explain the rapid adaptive radiation of mammals at the beginning of the Paleogene.
Understand how terrestrial animals evolved during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs.
Know which major groups of mammals evolved during the Oligocene.
Be able to describe the extinctions that occurred between middle Eocene and early Oligocene time.
Understand the changes in climate that occurred during the Eocene and Oligocene and the effects these changes had on the deep ocean and on both marine and terrestrial life.
Be able to explain how Antarctica cooled and became glaciated.
Understand the major geologic and geographic changes that took place within 30° latitude of the north pole.
Be able to describe the Laramide orogeny.
Know what created the petrified Eocene forests around Yellowstone National Park.