Paleontology with laboratory
Academic Year 2022/2023 - Teacher: Maria Antonietta ROSSOExpected Learning Outcomes
Capability of observation, description and identification of the different fossil types. Knowledge of the main fossilisation processes. Knowledge of the evolution process and of the history of life from its first appearance to nowadays. Acquisition of the concept of index fossils and the possibility of using fossils for dating rocks; ability in the identification of the main taxonomic groups of fossilis and of some stratigraphically relevant species. Knowledge of the effectiveness of using fossils for further purposes (mainly in geology) and ability to promote the fruition of fossil heritage.
Course Structure
With the hope that conditions for any restrictions such as those experienced in past years (imposed by measures against Covid-19) will not be proposed again, the teaching will be carried out following the modalities reported below.
1. lectures with PP presentations, diagrams and, possibly, films,
2. laboratories with examination of fossils and fossiliferous rocks in order to learn how to observe, describe and recognize the fossils, both isolated and within rocks. During laboratories, we will also learn methods for collection, processing and presentation of simple data, to describe individual taxa and for to documentat and enhance fossil heritage. Formation about how to search online for scientific purposes, mostly if the informatic room will be available for laboratories, at least in some occasions.
3. seminars by researchers from Italian or foreign Universities, who are specialists of particular topics. Possibly at least one on Cenozoic mammifers.
4. field excursion with timing to be defined, possibly even at the end of the second semester.
To guarantee equal opportunities and in compliance with the laws in force, students with disabilities and/or SLDs can ask for a personal interview in order to plan any compensatory and/or dispensatory measures, based on the didactic objectives and specific needs. It is also possible to contact the referent teacher CInAP (Center for Active and Participatory Integration - Services for Disabilities and/or SLD) of our Department, prof. Giorgio De Guidi.
At the request of students, topics of particular interest (or related topics) may be developed to carry out the final reports for the graduation.
Required Prerequisites
Attendance of Lessons
Attendance is necessary.
To achieve attendance, it is necessary to attend at least 70% of the lessons, in accordance with the indications for all disciplines in the didactic regulations of the course of study.
Attendance will be monitored directly by the teacher.
Detailed Course Content
Definition of Paleontology: history, articulation and employ. Concept of fossil.
Paleontological systematic: concept of biological and palaeontological species, morphospecies, cronospecies, intraspecific variability. Nomenclature: the species of Linneous and the binomial nomenclature. The International Code. The classification of organisms. Parataxonomy.
Structure, organisation and classification, and first information on autoecology, functional morfology and stratigraphic distribution of selected taxa selezionati from marin environments. Introduction to Cyanoficeae, Diatomeae, Radiolaria, Foraminifera, Coccolithophorida, Coralline algae; Tabulata, Heliolithiida, Rugosa, Scleractinia, Octocorallia, Serpuloidea, Poliplacophora, Scaphopoda, Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Cephalopoda, Bryozoa, Brachiopoda, Crinoida, Echinoida, Trilobita, Ostracoda, Cirripedia.
Taphonomy: mineralised and unmineralised parts of organisms; death. Biostratinomic processes: necrolisis, bioerosion, dissolution, transport. Burial, incorporation in resins, incrustation. Fossilisation: organic matter; mineralised parts. Types of fossil-bearing and exceptional fossil deposits, oriented distributions of fossils and concentrations: interpretation and use. Lithogenetic relevance of some fossil groups.
Fossils in the field and in the lab: main methods for observation, sampling, analysis, cataloging and exploitation.
Fossil and evolution: information about evolution, microevolution, macroevolution. History of life on Earth.
Fossils and stratigraphy: fossils as a tool for dating rocks and make correlations.
Information on fossil traces: formation, conservation, classification and palaeontological interest.
Information on palaeoecology; the distribution of organisms as a key for palaeoenvironmental, palaeobiogeographic and palaegeographic reconstructions.
Global change: fossils as climatic indicators with examples from the Mediterranean history.
Textbook Information
Students can chose between textes that are reported below, taking into consideration that they have to include books dealing with systematics and with general palaeontology:
AAVV a cura della Società Paleontologica Italiana. Manuale di Paleontologia. Fondamenti. Applicazioni. Idelson Gnocchi, 2020.
Raffi S. e Serpagli E. 1993. Introduzione alla Paleontologia. Utet ed.
Doyle P. 1996. Understanding fossils. An introduction to invertebrate paleontology. Wiley & sons.
Briggs D.E.G. e Crowter P.R. 1990. Palaeobiology: a synthesis. Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Ziegler B. 1983. Introduction to Palaeobiology. General Palaeontology. Donovan ed.
Allasinaz A. 1985. Paleontologia generale. Ecig ed.
Allasinaz A. 1991. Paleontologia generale e sistematica degli invertebrati. ECIG.
Allasinaz A. 1999. Invertebrati fossili. Utet.
Fortey R. 2002. Fossils: the key to the past. The Living Past Series. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington.
Course Planning
| Subjects | Text References | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Paleontology: origin and history; articulation. Concept of fossil. Types of fossils: body fossils, moulds and casts, trace fossils. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 2 | The species. Biological and paleontological concepts. Binomial nomenclature. Introduction to systematics. Classification. | Systematic paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 3 | Morphological characters, classification, distribution and paleontological importance of main taxonomic groups: Protists, Algae Corallinaceeans, Archaeociatids, Sponges. Conularids, Tabulates, Eliolitids, Tetracorals, Exacorals, Octocorals, Serpuloids, Monoplacophors, Polyplacophores, Scaphopods, Bivalves, Gastropods, Cepaalopods, Bryozoans, Brachiopods, Crinoids, Echinoids, Trilobites, Ostracods, Cirripeds. | Systematic paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 4 | Fossilization possibility of different taxonomic groups. Soft and hard (mineralised) body parts. Taphonomy. Death. Decomposition. Fossilisation of organic matter. Exceptional fossilisation. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 5 | Chemical and mineralogical composition of skeletons and preservation possibility. Stability of minerals constituting the skeletons. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 6 | Destructive biostratinomic processed: Disarticolation, Maceration, Bioerosion, Prediagenetic dissolution. Preservative biostratinomic processes: Incrostation. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 7 | Transport and consequences: fragmentation; abrasion. Selective transport. Oriented deposition. PUse of such information in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Temporary and final burial. Riesumation and reworking: how to recognise and information gained. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 8 | Fossil diagenesis. Fossilizzation of mineralised parts. Diagenetic dissolution. Internal moulds and external casts: how they form; their use and ustility for paleontological taxonomy and geology. Deformations: types, meaning and use. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 9 | Types of deposits and interpretation. Accumulations and concentrations of fossils: how they form, what kind of information they give us? Fossils as constituents and constructors of sedimentary rocks. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 10 | Hints about ecology and paleoecology. Methods and scopes. Paleoecological, palaeogeographic and paleobiogeographic reconstructions. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 11 | Trace fossils: production and preservation. Stratinomic and ethologic classification. Use of trace fossils in palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. Bioturbation and homogeniesation of sediments. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 12 | Fossils and the documentation of evolution. Evolution theories. Hints at genetic bases of evolution. Microevolution: the origin of the species. Macroevolution: the origin of high rank taxa. Irreversibility of evolution and consequences for the stratigraphy. Individual species extinctions and mass extinctions. Adaptive radiations. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 13 | History of life on Earth. Concept of guide fossil. Characters of good guide fossils. Relative dating and the geological time scale. Correlations. Examples of guide fossils in Sicily. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 14 | The evolution of the Mediterranean recorded by fossils. | General paleontology, in relation to the selected text-book, PP and further didactic material provided by the professor |
| 15 | Main principles of conservation, cataloging and exhibition of fossil items. | PP and further didactic material supplied by the teacher. |
Learning Assessment
Learning Assessment Procedures
Learning will be verified through an oral examination, at the end of the course according to the schedule of the study course and appropriately advertised on its website.
The exam also includes recognition of fossils and fossiliferous rocks and the possible solution of simple exercises.
An on-going test is foreseen to be held on a date to be agreed with the attending students but within the period specifically defined by the L34 Degree Course for the suspension of teaching.
In the ongoing test, students must be able to describe and recognize at least one fossil (provided by the teacher) and answer a few questions, some of which are multiple choice and others need a short open answer.
Examples of frequently asked questions and / or exercises
1. What types of fossils do you know?
2. What are fossil bodies?
3. What are trace fossils? how are they produced? How are they preserved in the geological record?
4. What is tafonnomy? what are its phases?
5. What are biostratinomic processes?
6. What are the morphological characteristics of the bivalves and what are the main features used for their classification?
7. What are the morphological characteristics of the bryozoans and the main characters used for their classification?
8. What we meant by a fossil deposit? what types do you know?
9. Stratigraphic distribution of species: examples from different eras.
10. What we intend for macroevolution?
11. What is speciation?
12. What does pre-adaptation consist of?
13. What are mass extinctions? and which ones do you know?
14. What fossils do you know that document salient moments in the history of the Mediterranean?
15. How would you organize a fossil exhibit?
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