Palaeobiology

Learning Outcomes

Learning Outcomes

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Analyse and interpret the evolution of morphology in fossils
• Relate taphonomy to palaeoenvironmental conditions.
• Interpret the palaeoecological characteristics of fossil assemblages
• Use phylogenetics to build evolutionary trees using fossils
• Identify the significance of the fossil record for understanding our perceptions of ancient biodiversity
• Use R to analyse numerical palaeobiological data on evolution, extinction, and palaeoecology

Macroevolution: The problems of origin, radiation, functional adaptation and extinction of fossil groups.

Phylogeny: Using fossils to understand the inter-relationships of living groups of animals.

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, echinoderms pterosaurs and dinosaurs.

Morphological Evolution: How traits and disparity are used to understand the evolution of morphology in deep time.

Mass Extinctions: To identify how mass extinctions have shaped the structure and composition of the ancient and extant biosphere.

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 and analysis of fossil data using R.

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.