Palaeobiology
| Code | School | Level | Credits | Semesters |
| BIOS3041 | Biosciences | 3 | 10 | Spring UK |
- Code
- BIOS3041
- School
- Biosciences
- Level
- 3
- Credits
- 10
- Semesters
- Spring UK
Summary
The course will focus on the processes that govern the interplay between the biosphere and geosphere. We will identify key events and processes in geological time, which demonstrate the geological consequences of evolution. Students will gain understanding of the mechanisms that control changes in the physiochemical environmental and their impact upon evolution and in turn how life has influenced physiochemical environment. We will also look at key deposits of exceptional preservation that allow us to understand ecosystems through deep time.
Target Students
Year 3 OR 4 BSc/MSci Environmental Science,Environmental Biology, International Environmental Science, Plant Science/Biology, Natural Sciences students.
Classes
- One 2-hour lecture each week for 11 weeks
Contact activities include lectures and laboratory analyses. 10 taught sessions and two practical classes.
Assessment
- 100% Exam 1 (3-hour): Written (In person)
Assessed by end of spring semester
Educational Aims
Palaeobiology explores the relationship between life and the Earth's physical and chemical environment over geological/evolutionary time. The module will focus on the geological consequences of evolution and how life has influenced physical and chemical environment. Topics covered will include: Origins and evolution of life Evolution of the atmosphere and biosphere, the palaeobiology of critical intervals in Earth history and ecosystem reconstruction. Students will gain an in-depth knowledge of the mechanisms that control changes in the physiochemical environmental and their impact upon evolution. In order to gain a broad understanding the module will explore past changes as seem in the fossil record, together with present day processes that underpin these responses. The lectures will give students knowledge of the tools that are used to reconstruct past environmental conditions and ecosystem.Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
• Evaluate interaction (feedbacks and feed-forward) between O2 and life over the key intervals in geological time.
• Evaluate interaction (feedbacks and feed-forward) between CO2 and life over the key intervals in geological time.
• Critique various mechanisms proposed for mass extinction events and apply this knowledge to case studies.
• Discuss the value of lagerstätten in reconstructing ecosystems through deep time.