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B006269 - PALEONTOLOGY
Main information
Course Content
Suggested readings
Learning Objectives
Prerequisites
Teaching Methods
Further information
Type of Assessment
Course program
Academic Year 2010-11
Course year
First year - Second Semester
Belonging Department
Earth Sciences (DST)
Course Type
Single education field course
Scientific Area
GEO/01 - PALEONTOLOGY AND PALEOECOLOGY
Credits
9
Teaching Hours
72
Teaching Term
01/03/2011 ⇒ 23/06/2011
Attendance required
No
Type of Evaluation
Final Grade
Course Content
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Course program
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Lectureship
Course Content
Fossils. Fossilization. Ecology and paleoecology. Classification and concept of species. Evolutionary theories. Biostratigraphy. Chronostratigraphy, Isotope stratigraphy. Paleobiogeography. History of life. Systematics: Protista, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Brachiopoda and Arthropoda. Laboratory of applied stratigraphy
Suggested readings (Search our library's catalogue)
Raffi S. e Serpagli E. 1993, Introduzione alla Paleontologia. Utet Scienze della Terra Torino.
Monroe and Wicander 1997, The changing earth. Exploring geology and evolution. West/Wadsworth
Stanley S. 1975, Earth and Life trough time. Freeman and Company New York
Ricci Lucchi F. 1996. La Scienza di Gaia: ambienti e sistemi naturali visti da un geologo. Zanichelli.
Vialli 1985 Lezioni di Paleontologia
Clarkson 1998 Invertebrate palaeontology and evolution
Monroe and Wicander 1997, The changing earth. Exploring geology and evolution. West/Wadsworth
Stanley S. 1975, Earth and Life trough time. Freeman and Company New York
Ricci Lucchi F. 1996. La Scienza di Gaia: ambienti e sistemi naturali visti da un geologo. Zanichelli.
Vialli 1985 Lezioni di Paleontologia
Clarkson 1998 Invertebrate palaeontology and evolution
Learning Objectives
Knowledge acquired: This course is designed to give an introduction to the origin of fossil remains, to the evolution, stratigraphic distribution and paleoenvironmental significance of past organisms. The course is also designed to provide the basics of geochronology based on biological and geological events, as well as of the systematics, functional morphology and physiology of marine invertebrates in their paleoecologic context .
Competence acquired Students will gain knowledge relating to the basics of research in the fields of taphonomy, life history, taxonomy, paleoecology, stratigraphy, and paleobiogeography. Systematics of marine invertebratesStudents will understand the origins and evolution of biological diversity.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):A strong background to pursue independent research in the different fields of paleontological studies
Competence acquired Students will gain knowledge relating to the basics of research in the fields of taphonomy, life history, taxonomy, paleoecology, stratigraphy, and paleobiogeography. Systematics of marine invertebratesStudents will understand the origins and evolution of biological diversity.
Skills acquired (at the end of the course):A strong background to pursue independent research in the different fields of paleontological studies
Prerequisites
Courses recommended: Geology 1
Teaching Methods
Total hours of the course (including the time spent in attending lectures, seminars, private study, examinations, etc...): 225
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: about 150
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 62
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 20
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 8
Seminars (hours): 2
Stages: 0
Intermediate tests: 2
Hours reserved to private study and other indivual formative activities: about 150
Contact hours for: Lectures (hours): 62
Contact hours for: Laboratory (hours): 20
Contact hours for: Laboratory-field/practice (hours): 8
Seminars (hours): 2
Stages: 0
Intermediate tests: 2
Further information
Office hours:
By appointment
By appointment
Type of Assessment
Practical and oral tests
Course program
Taphonomy and fossilization. Ecology and paleoecology. Fossils as environmental indicators. Population structure and dynamics. Classification and concept of species. Theories of evolution from Lamarck to punctuated equilibria. Biostratigraphy, basics of Magnetostratigraphy, Chronostratigraphy and Geochronology. Isotope stratigraphy. Stratigraphic correlations and integrated stratigraphy. Paleobiogeography. The origin of the biosphere, the history of life from the primeval organic components to present life, major paleobiological events and palaeoenvironmental changes. Invertebrate paleontology: taxonomy, morphology and evolution of Protista, Cnidaria, Mollusca, Echinodermata, Brachiopoda and Artropoda. Laboratory of applied stratigraphy.