A survey of the number of dinosaur fossils over different geologic periods would show?

Question

A. roughly the same number from the Carboniferous Period through the Cretaceous Period.

B. a sharp decrease around the end of the Cretaceous Period.

C. a gradual decrease during the Triassic and Jurassic Periods.

D. the greatest number during the Permian Period.

Answer 1

According to the latest survey I've seen, dating from 2004, it wouldn't show any of the above.  Earlier authors maintained there was a sharp decrease towards the end of the Cretaceous.  However, subesquent research suggests no significant decrease in diversity occurred.

Shape of Mesozoic dinosaur richness, GEOLOGY, October 2004

Fastovsky et Al

Abstract (from page 877)

"The richness of Mesozoic Dinosauria is examined through the use of a new global database. Mesozoic dinosaurs show a steadily increasing rate of diversification, in part attributable to the development of new innovations driving an increasing variety of behavioral strategies. The data do not suggest that dinosaurs were decreasing in richness leading to extinction during the last ;10 m.y. of the Cretaceous. Refinement of the dating of dinosaur fossils, rather than the collection of more dinosaurs, is the best way to resolve globally the rate of the Cretaceous-Tertiary dinosaur

extinction."

Based on that, none of the above apply.

A is nonsense as there were no Carboniferous dinos.

B is refuted by the above findings.

C makes no sense as there were no dinos prior to the Middle Triassic, and Jurassic dinos are more diverse than Triassic ones.

D is nonsense because there were no Permian dinos.