Undergraduate Course: Palaeontology (EASC10096)
Course Outline
| School | School of Geosciences |
College | College of Science and Engineering |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
Availability | Available to all students |
| SCQF Credits | 10 |
ECTS Credits | 5 |
| Summary | Fossils are the remains of life on Earth, and they record important information about the origin, diversity and evolution of life. This course will concentrate on important aspects of evolution, palaeoecology and extinction of the main invertebrate and vertebrate groups of organisms. The course will comprise lectures (possibly 1 or 2 labs), 5 excursions, and 2 museum visits. The following Scottish localities are visited: Dob's Lin, Pentland Hills, Fife, East Lothian and Helmsdale. The main aim of the museum and field excursions is that students obtain a comprehensive view of fossils (and thus history of life and evolution) throughout the geological timescale (Paleozoic and Mesozoic) in the context of Scottish geology. No previous knowledge is assumed. |
| Course description |
16th September
Introductory lecture.
23th September
Excursion to Dob's Lin (Ordovician, graptolites).
30th September
Excursion to Pentland Hills (Silurian, brachiopods, trilobites, crinoids, corals, sponges, bryozoan etc.).
7th October
Fife: excursion to Fife (Carboniferous, brachiopods, crinoids, bryozoan etc.
14th October
East Lothian (Carboniferous, biostratigraphic exercise, logging a section).
21st October
Lecture on vertebrate Paleontology; formative feedback on the logging exercise.
28th October
Visit to the national Museum of Edinburgh (study the collections of various fossils and the main exhibits).
4th November
Lecture on vertebrate Paleontology.
11th November
Lecture on vertebrate Paleontology.
14th November
Helmsdale excursion (visit to Elgin to study the museum exhibit Permian and Triassic vertebrates; Jurassic outcrops along the beach of Helmsdale, Devonian fish deposits).
18th November
Practical exam.
25th November
Lectures on general biodiversity patterns and mass extinctions.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
It is RECOMMENDED that students have passed
Evolution of the Living Earth (EASC08023)
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Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | None |
Information for Visiting Students
| Pre-requisites | None |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2014/15, Available to all students (SV1)
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Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Semester 1 |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
100
(
Lecture Hours 10,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 10,
Fieldwork Hours 20,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 2,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
58 )
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| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
80 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
20 %
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| Additional Information (Assessment) |
Written Exam: 80%, Course Work: 0 %, Practical Exam: 20%.
Written Exam (80% of the total mark)
The student is expected to answer two out of four questions in the written exam. The mark for each question will be based on knowledge of fossils (including evolution, paleoecology, mass extinctions), geological context and the structure of the essay. The marks for each question in the written exam are equally weighted.
Practical exam (20% of the total mark)
The lecturers will hold an oral exam with each student. The students are expected to recognise the main fossil groups (and their ecology) in several rocks from Scottish localities. |
| Feedback |
Not entered |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Hours & Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S1 (December) | | 2:00 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- An appreciation of the importance of fossils; how they are used in biostratigraphy, recognition of paleoenvironments and knowledge of patterns of evolution and extinction throughout the Paleozoic and Mesozoic.
- Increased general knowledge of Scottish geology during this course.
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Reading List
Benton, M.J. and Harper, D.A.T., 2009, Introduction to Paleobiology and the fossil record, Wiley-Blackwell
Clarkson, E.N.K., 1986, Invertebrate palaeontology and evolution, Chapman & Hall
Stephen L. Brusatte, 2012, Dinosaur Paleobiology, Wiley-Blackwell
Michael J. Benton, 201407, Vertebrate Palaeontology, Wiley-Blackwell |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Not entered |
| Special Arrangements |
None |
| Additional Class Delivery Information |
Lectures on Tuesdays at 13:10-14:00, Weeks 1-11.
Laboratory sessions on Tuesdays at 14:10-17:00, Weeks 1-11.
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| Keywords | Palaeontology |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Prof Dick Kroon
Tel: (0131 6)50 4509
Email: D.Kroon@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Mr Ken O'Neill
Tel: (0131 6)50 8510
Email: koneill3@exseed.ed.ac.uk |
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