Which method is least likely to be accomplished through fossil record studies?

The process of analyzing sleep patterns of organisms relies heavily on contemporary observations and behavioral studies rather than fossil records. Fossilized remains can provide insights into the physical characteristics and potential behaviors of organisms that once existed, but they do not contain direct evidence of sleep patterns. Factors such as the environment, predation, and other ecological interactions that influence sleep are typically studied through direct observation of living species rather than inferred from fossil evidence.

In contrast, identifying evolutionary changes in organisms, comparing anatomical structures across species, and studying extinction events all can be effectively accomplished through the fossil record. Fossils allow scientists to track changes over time, reveal anatomical similarities and differences, and provide chronological data about when species went extinct and the conditions that may have contributed to these events.