Unit name | Macroevolution |
---|---|
Unit code | EASC30066 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1B (weeks 7 - 12) |
Unit director | Professor. Mike Benton |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
Mandatory units in years 1 and 2 of a degree programme in Environmental Geoscience, Geology or Palaeontology and Evolution at Bristol. There are no pre-requisites for MSc Palaeobiology students |
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:
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 laboratory 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.
Coursework 100%
Formative:
Summative:
Assessment is based on proficiency with R, evidence of understanding macroevolutionary meaning of the results, and presentation quality.
Recommended
Further reading