Unit information: Micropalaeontology in 2018/19

Unit name	Micropalaeontology
Unit code	EASCM0040
Credit points	10
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Schmidt
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	n/a
Co-requisites	n/a
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

This unit will cover the major biological approaches used to quantify and understand the Earth System. These include the biology of the major groups of fossilised plankton and the use of microfossils in reconstructing paleo-temperatures, water depth, productivity and oxygen levels in the ocean. These methods will be applied to major transitions in Earth history (e.g. initiation of Northern Hemisphere glaciation, Pliocene warmth, Paleocene-Eocene Boundary) aiming to introduce the students to uncertainties in reconstructing past climates and limitations of the methods.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion you will be able to:

• Identify each of the major microfossil groups, both morphologically and biologically, and outline the basic biology of marine microfossils

• Demonstrate how the ecological distribution of living groups can be extended to exploit the palaeoecological significance of their fossil counterparts

• Demonstrate how microfossils can be used stratigraphy

• Critically evaluate reconstructions of ocean conditions and climates, including uncertainties and limitations.

• Perform first steps of paleoclimate reconstruction.

Teaching Information

Lectures and practicals

Assessment Information

An unseen 2 hour theory examination based on material covered in both lectures and practicals (80%).

Presentation at the end of the unit on a current topic, based on suggested reading and the course content (20%).

Assessment will be completed in accordance with the University Regulations and Code of Practice for Taught Programmes, available online at http://www.bristol.ac.uk/esu/assessment/codeonline.html and School marking criteria for oral presentations.

Reading and References

Essential reading

There is no individual book which provides the necessary comprehensive overview. Individual chapters of the recommended reading will provide a good background. Based on your background, these will allow you to catch up on relevant information.

Recommended reading

• M. Williams, A.M. Haywood, J.F. Gregory, D.N. Schmidt, (Eds), Deep time perspectives on climate change - marrying the signal from computer models and biological proxies, Geological Society of London, London, 2007, 587 pp.
• G. Fischer, G. Wefer, (Eds), Use of Proxies in Paleoceanography, Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, New York, 1999, 735 pp.
• H.A. Armstrong, M.D. Brasier, Microfossils, Blackwell Publishing, Oxford, 2005.

Further reading will be provided in each lecture to complement the content. For the highest marks in the assessment it is fundamentally important to read these papers.