OVERVIEW

Palaeontology deals with the study of fossils, which are defined as rests of ancient life on earth. Fossils allow evolutionary studies as well as paleoenvironmental reconstructions, from primordial traces of life up to the most modern communities. fossils are routinely used to date sediments as well.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The course aims to provide students with the basic knowledges to understand the role of the fossils in Earth Sciences. In particular he main topics dealt with are: 1) Fossilization processes, 2) Palaeoecology and biostratigraphy, 3) Palaeoichnology, 4) Systematic and morphology of Algae, Land plants and Invertebrates.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students will be able to observed and describe the morhology of a large variety of fossils including micro- macro- and ichnofossils. Aquiring proper terminology is a key factor and mandatory in this module. After the morhological descrizption, the students will learn how to classify each single specimen into the taxonomical clusters discussed during both clases and practicals.

students will be required to correlate fossils with age and environment and be able to coordinate his ability in discussing different palaeoenvironments trough time and space.

TEACHING METHODS

frontal teaching classes, practicals, tutorials and field activity

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Fossilization and taphonomy: we will encompass the definition of fossils and we will amply discuss systematics and classification techniques. we will have a focused knowledge on fossilization processes and biostratinomy. there will be large spece for practicals and tutorials where students can have hands-on experience with a large variety of fossils specimens.

 PALAEOECOLOGY and biostratigraphy: we will learn how to correlate fossils with age and environment to be able to reconstruvt the palaeoecology of a community in space and time

PALAEOICNOLOGY – ichnofossils classifications, etological classification and palaeoecological applications. hands-on experience on a large vareity of samples.

Biostratigraphy: evolution of fossil communities trough time.

field activities: recognizion of fossils and traces along sedimentary deposits in the surrounding region of Genoa.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

Allasinaz A. – Paleontologia generale e sistematica degli invertebrati – ECIG
- Benton M. & Harper D. – Basic palaeontology – LONGMAN
- Milsom C. & Rigby S. – Fossils at a glance - BLACKWELL
- Raffi S. & Serpagli E. – Introduzione alla paleontologia – UTET
- Doyle – Understanding fossils: an introduction to Invertebrate Palaeontology – WILEY

A disposizione (scaricabili da Aula WEB) copia di iconografia usata nelle lezioni, testi degli esercizi e Power Point

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

ANTONINO BRIGUGLIO (President)

ANDREA BAUCON

LAURA FEDERICO

MICHELE PIAZZA

LESSONS

LESSONS START

please check

http://www.distav.unige.it/ccsgeo/orario-lezioni

Class schedule

PALEONTOLOGY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

oral examination

Each student will start by identifying fossil community, age and depositional environment on a thin section using a microscope.

After this, each student will get 5 more samples where at least one will be selected among those stored in the ichnological collection and one from the botanical colleciton.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

during the examination the student will recognize and discuss several samples of fossils including plants, ichnofossils and metazoans. the students will describe their morphology their palaeoecology and will try to give an age estimation.

thin section analyses might apply as well

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

although attending the module is not mandatory, it is very important to join both classes and practical activity as they are a keystone to sucsefully pass the examination.

proper attire is mandatory to join practical activities.