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No Single Example of Macro-Evolutionary Transition
One of the main proposed problems with the fossil record is that leading scientists are unable to cite one specific example of a transitional series of fossilized organisms that illustrates the transformation of one kind of plant or animal into another. The process evolutionists are describing, but cannot support with fossils, is called macro-evolutionary transition. Transition describes how Darwin's theory of evolution works on a case-by-case basis, through progressive, successive "gradualism" as opposed to the instantaneous "design" of creationism. According to some opponents of evolutionary theory, the fossil record cannot help explain the Cambrian explosion, for example, in which many organisms appeared in only a few hundred million years. If museum officials, natural history experts and paleontology archivists cannot use an example to describe the theory of evolution, they can struggle to convince people of their arguments, which holds back the progress of evolutionary theory.
Preservation Differences Cause Misinterpretation
Because large, heavy skeletons are more easily preserved than small, fragile bone structures, the fossil record can provide misleading information. For example, it is likely that small, slender dinosaurs existed in higher numbers than large dinosaurs, but the fossil record would show the opposite if it were interpreted so simplistically. This illustrates the problem with only relying on a basic interpretation. The fossil record should be used in conjunction with other types of scientific evidence to get the most out of it. Understanding the biology of the organisms, their genetics, the environment they inhabited and their group interactions provides a more rounded picture of the different stages in evolution.
Geographical Limits
The only fossils examined by scientists are the ones scientists can access, so the fossil record is probably incomplete. Many undetected fossils could lie under miles of rock or be located in difficult places to reach, such as under the ocean or in volcanoes, so understanding of how some ancient animals and plants lived is unknown as of 2011. Another associated issue is the effect the environment and conditions have on a fossil. High temperatures, crushing pressures and many acids can affect the preservation of the minerals that create fossils, making the result more difficult to understand and potentially misleading. In extreme cases, some fossils will already have been destroyed by their changing geographical location and will never be found.
Poor Methodology
Fossils have been discovered and examined and even restored by scientists for many hundreds of years. Doctor John Woodward is considered to be the first paleontologist, collecting over 10,000 specimens in a 35-year period, as explained by The Sedgwick Museum. But, in the past, some scientific techniques and methods of cleaning and preservation might not have been adequate. They may have even damaged the specimens, making it more difficult for future scientists to understand them. Also, some researchers only removed and preserved the most "interesting" parts of skeletons, leaving the rest to nature. This may have created gaps in our evolutionary understanding and could be partly to blame for the issue of unproven macro-evolutionary transition.