Only a very small percentage of organisms actually fossilize

Only a very small percentage of organisms actually fossilize. Based on the information in the table below, rank the likely abundance of fossils of organisms A-E. Rank the fossils of organisms A-E from most common to least common. If two fossils have the same commonness, overlap them.

Solution

Answer:

Ranking based on the abundance of fossils of organisms, A-E:

1. Organism E is most likely to fossilize

This organism has a hard shell and lives with sediments near the shore and has a large population with long existence.
2. Organism A

It has the larger population and longer existence time. This can lead to A having a better chance at fossilizing than B.
3. Organism B

Organism B has a small population with a short existence time.
4. Organism C

It lives with no sediment, has a large population with a long existence thus leaving it more susceptible to becoming fossilize than D.
5. Organism D (being the least common fossil)

It has a soft body, lives with no sediment deposits, has a short life and a small population.