Unit name | Evolution of the Biosphere |
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Unit code | EASC30008 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1A (weeks 1 - 6) |
Unit director | Professor. Mike Benton |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Successful completion of years 1 and 2 of either the Environmental Geoscience or the Geology degree programme curriculum. |
Co-requisites |
n/a |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This unit focuses on macroevolution, the large patterns of evolution of life on Earth. It is an interdisciplinary unit, drawing material from palaeontology, stratigraphy, sedimentology and evolution. The focus is on tackling deep-time questions concerning global change and the origins of biodiversity. A clear focus is given to current debates and the evidence on either side of debated issues, so students can read widely in the current literature and understand the nature of different kinds of evidence and their meaning. Clear links are made to current environmental crises.
The whole unit is presented in terms of numerical tests, and the practical series is a focused course in R, covering introduction to the basics of R programming, producing graphs, and using a range of current techniques to explore rates and models of evolution, diversity, palaeobiogeography, and sudden events.
The main aims are:
On completion, you should be able to:
Lectures and practicals
Examination (70%) and continuous assessment of coursework (30%)
There is no single recommended text for the course. Students should refer to the following for background information on most of the topics covered: