How does the fern Glossopteris provide evidence for the movement of the continents?
(A)It is the oldest plant on Earth.
(B)It existed in the Permian period.
(C)It was found on many continents.
(D)It lived at the same time as Lystrosaurus.
(C) It was found on many continents.
The fern Glossopteris provides evidence for the movement of the continents because it was found on many continents. This indicates that the continents were once connected and have since drifted apart. Therefore, the correct option is (C) It was found on many continents.
The correct answer is (C) It was found on many continents.
The fern Glossopteris is an important piece of evidence for the theory of continental drift because its fossils have been found on multiple continents that are widely separated today. Glossopteris was an ancient fern that lived during the Permian period, approximately 250 million years ago. Fossils of Glossopteris have been discovered in South America, Africa, Australia, India, and Antarctica.
The presence of Glossopteris in these different regions supports the idea that these lands were once part of a single supercontinent known as Pangaea. The fossil distribution suggests that Glossopteris thrived in a cool and temperate climate, which is inconsistent with the current locations of these continents. This indicates that they must have been connected at some point in the past and have since drifted apart to their current positions.
Therefore, the presence of Glossopteris on multiple continents provides evidence for the movement of the continents and supports the theory of plate tectonics.