( ( ( Water , ) ( rocks ( , ( trees ( , ( plants ( , ( ( animals and ) birds ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ) ( ( were ( living presences ) ) . ) )
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (NNP Water)) (, ,) (NP (NNS rocks) (, ,) (NNS trees) (, ,) (NNS plants) (, ,) (NNS animals) (CC and) (NNS birds))) (VP (VBD were) (VP (VBG living) (NP (NNS presences)))) (. .)))
Water, rocks, trees, plants, animals and birds were living presences.
(ROOT (S (NP (NP (DT The) (NN presence)) (PP (IN of) (NP (NP (DT an) (NN animal) (NN fossil)) (PP (IN in) (NP (DT a) (NN rock)))))) (VP (VBZ gives) (NP (NP (NN evidence)) (PP (IN of) (NP (DT the) (NN time) (NN period)))) (NP (NP (DT the) (NN animal)) (VP (VBN lived) (PP (IN in))))) (. .)))
The presence of an animal fossil in a rock gives evidence of the time period the animal lived in.