Unit name | The Cambrian Explosion - the origin of animal body plans |
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Unit code | EASC30052 |
Credit points | 10 |
Level of study | H/6 |
Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 1A (weeks 1 - 6) |
Unit director | Dr. Vinther |
Open unit status | Not open |
Pre-requisites |
n/a |
Co-requisites |
n/a |
School/department | School of Earth Sciences |
Faculty | Faculty of Science |
This course provides an overview of the shape and structure of the animal tree of life from a zoomorphological, phylogenetic, palaeontological and geological perspective. The student will become familiar with the morphologic diversity underpinning the diversity of animals and the invertebrate fossil record. We will look at the diverse ecological strategies animals have adapted towards and discuss how these evolved and made an impact on Earth as we know it.
The main aims are to introduce and comprehensively review the following themes:
The student should become familiar with and be able to:
Lectures and practicals
Final 2 hour closed exam (75%), 2 assessments based on practicals (25%). One of the practical assessments will be a detailed report based on work done over three of the practical sessions and will constitute 15% of the 25% assessment load.