Learning objectives
By the end of the course the student is expected to know and understand the principles of marine paleoecology and its applications within Earth Sciences. Specifically the student should be able to to deeply know and understand how fossils can be applied for paleoenviromental reconstruction at level of individual, population and community.
Prerequisites
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Course unit content
- Introduction (definitions and subdivision of paleoecology; relationships
between ecology and paleoecology);
- Basic concepts of ecology and the marine ecosystem (physical
environments, life modes and trophic strategies of marine organisms);
- Environmental control on organism distribution in the marine
environments;
- Taxonomic uniformism and functional morphology;
- Fossils as environmental indicators;
- Paleoecologic reconstruction at population and community levels;
- Quantitative analysis of fossils assemblages
- Practicals: 1) analysis at microscope of foraminiferal assemblages
indicative of different marine paleoenvironments; 2) examples of
paleoenviromental/paleoceanographic and paleoclimatic reconstructions
based on fossil foraminiferal assemblages
Full programme
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Bibliography
Material used during the lectures (slides, scientific papers)
1) Brenchley P.J. & Harper D.A.T., 1998. Palaeoecology: ecosystem,
environments and evolution. Chapman & Hall.
2) Raffi S. & Serpagli E., 1993. Introduzione alla Paleontologia. Utet.
3) Murray J.W., 1993. Ecology and paleoecology of benthic foraminifera.
Longman Scientific &Technical.
4) Murray J., 2006. Ecology and Applications of benthic foraminifera.
Cambridge University Press.
5) Pinet P.R., 2006. Invitation to Oceanography. Jones & Bartlett.
Teaching methods
Frontal lectures using multimedial tools and practical lessons in
laboratory, at microscope and in classroom
Assessment methods and criteria
The final evaluation will take into account:
- results of the practical at microscope and in classroom
- oral exam to verify the knowledge and understanding, the capability of applying knowledge and understanding regarding the topics treated during the course and the communication skills.
Other information
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2030 agenda goals for sustainable development
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