PALAEONTOLOGY

Course Code

GL 2010

Credit Points

15

Course Coordinator

Professor G M Walkden

Pre-requisites

None

Notes

Available only to students in programme year 2 or above.

Overview

This introductory course covers the recognition and interpretation of invertebrate fossils and fossil assemblages. It is suitable for all intending physical and biological scientists and provides a broad overview of palaeontology that would also interest non-scientists.

1. Principles: Preservation and taphonomy; recognising species; systematics
   and evolution; recording and handling data.


2. Systematic palaeontology: morphology, evolution and palaeoecology of brachiopods,
   bivalves, cephalopods, trilobites, graptolites, corals, echinoderms and minor
   groups.


3. Interpreting fossil assemblages.

Structure

2 lab/lecture sessions per week.

Assessment

Assessment: Assessment by practical course work (40%); 1 two-hour exam paper (50%) and oral presentation (10%). Students must pass both components.

Resit: Examination (100%).