PALEONTOLOGY
cod. 16578

Academic year 2014/15
1° year of course - Second semester
Professor
Paola MONEGATTI
Academic discipline
Paleontologia e paleoecologia (GEO/01)
Field
Ambito geologico-paleontologico
Type of training activity
Characterising
63 hours
of face-to-face activities
9 credits
hub: PARMA
course unit
in - - -

Learning objectives

Provide an overview on the basic nature of paleontology and on the its applications to geological sciences. Impart an understanding of physical nature, evolution and interaction of fossil record. Give enough knowledge on stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental distribution of the fossil record. Provide for each phylum of marine invertebrates the information about morphology and physiology enough for classification.

Prerequisites

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Course unit content

General Paleontology: The scientific method. Fields of investigation of Paleontology. Taphonomy, ichnology. Rules of Zoological Nomenclature. Classification, taxonomy and systematics. Evolution (theories, processes, speciation and extinctions). Biostratigraphy, geochronology and chronostratigraphy. Palaeoecology, Palaeobiogeography.
Systematic Paleontology: morphology, classification, stratigraphy and ecological significance of the main phyla of marine invertebrates: Porifera, Archaeocyatha, Cnidaria, Arthropoda (classes Trilobita and Crustacea), Mollusca, Brachiopoda, Bryozoa, Echinodermata, Hemichordata (class Graptolithina) and microfossils (Foraminifera, Calcareous Nannoplancton, Radiolaria, diatoms).

Full programme

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Bibliography

Raffi S., Serpagli E., 1992. Introduzione alla Paleontologia. UTET Ed., Torino.
Ziegler B., 1983. Introduction to paleobiology: general paleontology. Ellis Horwood limited.
Allasinaz A., 1999. Invertebrati fossili. UTET Ed., Torino
McKinney F.K., 1991. Exercises in invertebrate paleontology. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Boardman R.S., Cheetham A.H., Rowell, A.J.L., 1987. Fossil Invertebrates. Blackwell Scient. Public., Oxford-London-Edimburg.
Clarkson E.N.K., 1998. Invertebrate paleontology and evolution. Allen & Unwin
Iaccarino S., 1995. Elementi di micropaleontologia.
Braisier M.D., 1980. Microfossils.

Teaching methods

Theoric lectures and tutorials

Assessment methods and criteria

written (systematic paleontology) and oral (general paleontology) examination

Other information

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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development

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