which of the following characteristics is essential to be considered an effective index fossil? selected answer will be automatically saved. for keyboard navigation, press up/down arrow keys to select an answer. a a. the organism lived in a very specific environment or two, such as tropical volcanic islands b b. the organism lived for a very limited period of geologic time c c. the fossils of the organism are exceptionally well preserved d d. the organism lived on the land, not in the ocean