Trapped within the asphalt is an entire prehistoric ecosystem! From microscopic diatoms to Ice Age mammoths, the complete and incredible biodiversity of Rancho La Brea is waiting to be explored.

While reading this section try to answer the following questions and define the terms below:

Ice Age Investigation:

• What was the ecosystem of Rancho La Brea like (e.g. weather, animals and plants)?
  
• What can the teeth of an animal reveal about its diet? What can an animal's skeleton tell us about their possible behavior?
  
• Do any of the animals of Rancho La Brea have living relatives? What are the similarities and differences between the extinct species and their living relatives?
  
• Why are some animals commonly found in the asphalt while others are so scarce?

La Brea Vocabulary:

• Ecosystem
  
• Environment
  
• Invertebrate
  
• Carnivore
  
• Feline
  
• Scavenger
  
• Prey
  
• Niche
  
• Vertebrate
  
• Herbivore
  
• Canids
  
• Skeleton
  
• Predator