Undergraduate Course: Marine Micropalaeontology (EASC10067)
Course Outline
| School |
School of Geosciences |
College |
College of Science and Engineering |
| Course type |
Standard |
Availability |
Available to all students |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) |
SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Credits |
10 |
| Home subject area |
Earth Science |
Other subject area |
Environmental Courses |
| Course website |
None |
|
|
| Course description |
This course is designed to provide an introduction to interpreting the microfossil record for palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphy application with specific focus on the planktonic foraminifera. The course will begin with a short series of introductory talks with group discussions and since >the present is the key to the past<, the option starts with the biology of the modern ocean ecosystem, biodiversity and how modern genetics may influence the interpretation of the fossil record. This will be followed by visits to a foraminiferal genotyping lab and sediment core store followed by a set of practicals in the microscope lab. Students will examine and identify planktonic foraminifers at time intervals throughout the fossil record from the Cretaceous through to the recent, including the major extinction events. The Scanning Electron Microscope will be used to image the microfossils. Students will present biostratigraphic exercises to the group. |
Entry Requirements
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites |
|
| Prohibited Combinations |
|
Other requirements |
None
|
| Additional Costs |
None. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Delivery period: 2010/11 Block 3 (Sem 2), Available to all students (SV1)
|
WebCT enabled: Yes |
Quota: None |
| Location |
Activity |
Description |
Weeks |
Monday |
Tuesday |
Wednesday |
Thursday |
Friday |
| King's Buildings | Lecture | | 1-6 | 09:00 - 12:00 | | | | |
| First Class |
First class information not currently available |
Summary of Intended Learning Outcomes
| In this course, students will develop a detailed knowledge and understanding of how to interpret the microfossil record for palaeoenvironmental and biostratigraphic application with specific focus on the planktonic foraminifera. Students will gain a thorough, integrated understanding of the biology of the modern ocean ecosystem, biodiversity, as well as a critical understanding of how modern genetics may influence the interpretation of the fossil record. Students will be given an insight into a range of professional level contexts through visits to a foraminiferal genotyping lab and sediment core store and will be able to practise in such contexts through the set of practicals based in the microscope lab. Therefore, by the end of this course, students will have learnt how to process sediments for dating and research and how to date a borehole using planktonic foraminiferal fossil biozones. They will have been introduced to both principal and specialised techniques used in this field for example the Scanning Electron Microscope and will know how to apply them to analyse complex problems. Students will be required to make formal presentations about biostratigraphic exercises for the assessment. |
Assessment Information
| Practical appraisal 50%, Presentation 50% |
| Please see Visiting Student Prospectus website for Visiting Student Assessment information |
Special Arrangements
| Not entered |
Contacts
| Course organiser |
Dr Kathryn Darling
Tel: (0131)6 50 4913
Email: kate.darling@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary |
Miss Emma Latto
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: emma.latto@ed.ac.uk |
|
copyright 2010 The University of Edinburgh -
1 September 2010 5:48 am
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