| 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 |
| Units you must take before you take this one (pre-requisite units) |
EASC10001 Geology 1 |
| Units you must take alongside this one (co-requisite units) |
BIOL20020 Quantitative and Computational Methods |
| Units you may not take alongside this one |
none |
| 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.
If this unit has a Resource List, you will normally find a link to it in the Blackboard area for the unit. Sometimes there will be a separate link for each weekly topic.
If you are unable to access a list through Blackboard, you can also find it via the Resource Lists homepage. Search for the list by the unit name or code (e.g. EASC20044).
How much time the unit requires
Each credit equates to 10 hours of total student input. For example a 20 credit unit will take you 200 hours
of study to complete. Your total learning time is made up of contact time, directed learning tasks,
independent learning and assessment activity.
See the Faculty workload statement relating to this unit for more information.
Assessment
The Board of Examiners will consider all cases where students have failed or not completed the assessments required for credit.
The Board considers each student's outcomes across all the units which contribute to each year's programme of study. If you have self-certificated your absence from an
assessment, you will normally be required to complete it the next time it runs (this is usually in the next assessment period).
The Board of Examiners will take into account any extenuating circumstances and operates
within the Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes.
