Palaeobiology

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Evaluate some of the current issues in palaeontology
• Ability to relate type of preservation to palaeoenvironmental conditions.
• Interpreting fossil form & assemblages
• Make simple palaeoecological deductions in the field.
• Relate morphology to function
• Understand the significance of taphonomy
• Handling numerical data on evolution & extinction

Evolution: the problems of origin, radiation, functional adaptation and extinction of fossil groups.

Taphonomy: examples of exceptional preservation and their significance for the evolutionary and palaeo-ecological record.

Palaeoecology: significance and use of fossils in environmental interpretation, palaeoecological methods.

Functional morphology: dynamics of flight and swimming in extinct reptiles. Evolution of flight. Interpretation and handling of data, morphology and evolution in selected groups, e.g. trilobites, cephalopods, brachiopods, bivalves, pterosaurs and dinosaurs.

Teaching and learning methods

Formal lectures: will cover the main topics of evolution, taphonomy, palaeoecology, and functional morphology.

Practical classes & demonstrations: will exemplify theory and allow you to develop appropriate practical skills. The practical classes are fully interactive allowing you hands-on experience of examining specimens, etc. under laboratory conditions.

Fieldwork during a one-day fieldcourse: you will develop your investigative skills, by relating types of preservation to palaeoenvironmental conditions.

A wide range of support can be provided for those students who have further or specific learning and teaching needs.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.