Paleomarine Biology Lecture Topics
|
Week of |
Topic/Assignment |
Chapter(s) |
|
Jan. 16 |
Introductory Topics: geological perspectives; oceans and Earth Systems; physical oceanography |
1 supplement |
|
Jan. 23 |
“Rocks for Biologists” & “Clastic Biology”— What sediment can tell us (E-level and Provenance) and Fossils & Fossilization Paper Summaries & Friday Discussion: Taphonomy, Fossil Assemblages, & Biases in the Fossil Record |
1 supplement |
|
Jan. 30 |
Major clades of the marine fossil record – week 1 micropaleontology, sponges & corals, lophophorates |
11, 12, 13 supplement |
|
Feb. 6 |
Major clades of the marine fossil record – week 2 molluscs, trilobites & echinoderms Friday fossil identification quiz |
14, 15, 16 supplement |
|
Feb. 13 |
Variation in fossils – how do individuals vary; how do populations vary Species concepts and the paleontological species problem Paper Summaries & Friday Discussion: What is a fossil species? |
2 & 3 |
|
Feb. 20 |
Monday Exam I Species recognition and variation – cases studies with fenestrate bryozoans (small group projects assigned) |
supplement |
|
Feb. 27 |
Autecology: Functional and Adaptive Morphology Paper Summaries & Friday Discussion: Autecology Case Studies |
7 |
|
|
Spring Break |
|
|
Mar.20 |
Paleoecology (Synecology) Concepts: ecological hierarchies, trophic dynamics, and environmental limiting factors (with examples) [communities, interactions, and relationships with environments] |
8 supplement |
|
Mar. 27 |
Evolutionary Paleoecology Seminars Week – Paper Summaries MWF Phanerozoic Diversity and “Evolutionary Faunas” Choose one: onshore-offshore trends, tiering, or escalation |
8 |
|
Begin
Exploration of Major Events in the History of Earth’s Oceans & Marine
Biota |
||
|
Apr. 3 |
The Oxygen Crisis Stromatolites and what they can tell us about ecology then and now Ediacara and Burgess Shale Discussion |
supplement |
|
Apr. 10 |
Mazon Creek Solnhoffen Limestone *Paper Summaries & Friday Discussion: (Ohio Ordovician and reefs) |
supplement |
|
Sat. 15 |
possible Caesar Creek field trip |
|
|
Apr. 17 |
(Possible Reef Community) Closing of Tethys seaway and segregation of *Paper Summaries & Friday Discussion: (Ohio Ordovician and reef) |
supplement |
|
Sat. 22 |
possible Caesar Creek field trip |
|
|
Apr. 24 |
Monday/Tuesday scheduled group project meetings (no class WF) |
|
|
May 1 |
Monday Exam II Wednesday TBA possible Friday field trip to see trace fossils in situ |
|
* One of these Fridays will
be for catch up time or field trip relief, depending on our status relative
to the schedule.
(Final) Exam III is on Friday, May 12, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.