PALEONTOLOGY (WITH LABORATORY)
Academic year2016/17
CourseGEOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Code014DD
Credits12
PeriodSemester 1 & 2
LanguageItalian
| Modules | Area | Type | Hours | Teacher(s) |
| PALEONTOLOGIA CON LABORATORIO MODULO 2 | GEO/01 | LEZIONI | 114 | |
Programma non disponibile nella lingua selezionata
Knowledge
The student who successfully completes the course will be able to demonstrate a solid knowledge of the main processes of fossilization and of the biotic evolution; will be able to recognize and describe with appropriate terminology the major fossil groups and to evaluate their stratigraphic, palaeoecological, palaeogeographic and/or lithogenetic relevance; will have the ability to recognize possible applications of the different fossil groups in the geoscience field as temporal and palaeoenvironmental markers.
Assessment criteria of knowledge
The student will be assessed on his/her demonstrated ability to discuss the main course contents using the appropriate terminology.During the oral examen the student must show that he/she has mastered the content of the course and is able to address and solve a palaeontological issue.
Methods:
Further information:
Knowledge retention will be assessed through oral examination with vote.
Teaching methods
Delivery: face to face
Learning activities:
- individual study
- Laboratory work
Attendance: Advised
Teaching methods:
Syllabus
The course covers the following topics: Outline of genetics. Principles and rules of taxonomy. The concept of species and intraspecific variability. Taphonomic processes, biostratinomic processes, burial and fossilization. Evolutionary theories, microevolution, the origin of species and macroevolution. Palaeoecology, populations and paleoenvironments, trace fossils. Biostratigraphy, biozones and biostratigraphic correlations. Palaeobiogeography, models of dispersal of organisms. Earth and life through time. The hypothesis on the origin of life and the major steps in biotic evolution. Relationship between organisms and environment. Systematic palaeontology: anatomy, morphology, palaeoecology and stratigraphic distribution of the main fossil groups of geological interest.
Bibliography
Recommended reading includes the following works:
Benton & Harper - (2009) Introduction to Paleobiology and the fossil record. Wiley-Blackwell
Allasinaz A.: Invertebrati fossili. UTET
Raffi S. & Serpagli E. (1993) – Introduzione alla Paleontologia. UTET
The power point files shown during the lessons can be downloaded from the webside of the teacher.
Updated: 14/11/2016 17:27
