And paleontologists do more than find and collect. They study the fossils they collect. They study the rocks fossils are buried in. They even study rocks that lie above, below, and near fossils. And they study modern geological processes and weather.
Paleontologists study modern plants and animals.
They look for clues as to how prehistoric plants and animals might have lived. The amount of light and heat we receive from the sun depends on how far away the sun is. Days and seasons may be longer or shorter, depending on Earth s rotation and orbit around the sun. The moon also affects life. If influences tides, for example.