Unit name | Palaeobiology |
---|---|
Unit code | EASC20044 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | I/5 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2C (weeks 13 - 18) |
Unit director | Dr. Cunningham |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
EASC10001 Geology 1 and BIOL20001 Quantitative Methods in Biology |
Co-requisites |
BIOL20018 Computational Methods in Biology |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
The aim of this unit it to introduce students to standard and advanced methods in palaeobiological analysis. Each week a different methodology and its practical application will be introduced. Practical classes will support the delivery of lecture material and allow students to undertake their own analyses. The students will undertake fossil and other types of data collection in the field This exercise will introduce students to concepts of palaeoecology in the field and allow them to collect and analyse their own data integrating statistical knowledge via mandatory unit BIOL20001 Quantitative Methods in Biology and applying knowledge of R programming via mandatory unit BIOL20018 Computational Methods in Biology and integrating palaeoecological and other methods taught during the new unit.
Specific topics to be covered include:
Systematics; taxonomy and the reconstruction of evolutionary relationships – phylogenies, cladistics
The nature of the fossil record – sample, preservational bias
Taphonomy – preservational mechanisms, controlling factors, experimental taphonomy
Palaeoecology – the nature of palaeoecological data and the analysis of palaeocommunities
Evolutionary morphology – characterising form, morphometric approaches.
On successful completion of the unit the student should be able to:
The unit will be taught through a combination of
Students who either begin or continue their studies in an online mode may be required to complete practical or field work, or alternative activities in person, either during the academic year 2020/21 or subsequently, in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units or to satisfy accreditation requirements.
100% coursework.
Coursework will involve detailed palaeoecological and statistical analysis of the palaeontological data written up as a scientific report (2,000 words).
Formative feedback will be given on an practical exercises.
References for each topic will be provided at the start of each week.
Recommended texts include: