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COURSE SYLLABUS: GEOL315 - Paleontology |
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Fall Semester, 2004 |
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Instructor: Norman R. King |
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Contact Info: SC2216; 464-1794; nking@usi.edu |
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Lectures (Mondays) |
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8/30 |
The fossil record for body fossils;
fossilization potential & processes; Lagerstatten |
Ch. 1 |
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9/7
(T) |
Ichnology-the study of trace
fossils: preservation, classification, ichnofacies |
Ch. 18 |
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9/13 |
Kingdoms—the structure of life;
organotrophy and autotrophy; early life; animals; skeletons |
TBA |
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9/20 |
Individual variation in
organisms/fossils: ontogeny; changes during evolution;
ecological variation; taphonomic variation (& finish previous
discussion) |
Ch. 2 |
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9/27 |
Quiz I; Species and speciation: the species concept in
paleontology; evolution of species |
Ch. 3 |
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10/4 |
Taxonomy and systematics: Linnaean systematics and nomenclature;
phenetics; cladistics; molecular systematics; ICZN rules |
Ch. 4 |
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10/11 |
Taxonomy, etc. (cont’d.) |
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10/18 |
Taxonomy, etc. (cont’d.) |
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10/25 |
First Lecture Exam |
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11/1 |
Evolution: evolving concepts of
evolution; Neo-Darwinism; the role of paleontology |
Ch. 5 |
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11/8 |
GSA meeting—NO CLASS |
TBA |
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11/13 |
Field trip (Saturday) |
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11/15 |
Extinction: causes; the Red Queen
syndrome; mass extinctions |
Ch. 6 |
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11/22 |
Quiz II; Functional morphology--form and function; paleoecology:
ecological relationships; autecology vs. synecology; environmental
limiting factors; case studies |
Ch.
7,8 |
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11/29 |
Biostratigraphy: beyond faunal succession;
zones and events; complications; quantification |
Ch. 10 |
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12/6 |
Biostratigraphy
(cont’d.); paleogeography & biogeography |
Ch. 9 |
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12/15 |
Final Lecture
Exam
(same time, same place) |
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Labs (Tuesdays and Thursdays) |
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8/31,9/2 |
Fossilization |
Ch. 1 |
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9/7,9 |
Trace fossils (ichnofossils) |
Ch. 18 |
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9/14,16 |
Monerans, protistans (including
algae) |
Ch. 11 |
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9/21,23 |
Primitive colonial
phyla--poriferans; archaeocyathans; cnidarians (coelenterates) |
Ch. 12 |
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9/28,30 |
Review; Lab Quiz 1 (Thursday) |
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10/5,7 |
Lophophorates--brachiopods;
bryozoans (ectoprocts) |
Ch. 13 |
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10/12,14 |
Arthropods--trilobitomorphs;
chelicerates; crustaceans; tracheates (uniramians) |
Ch.
14 |
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10/19,21 |
Molluscs--gastropods; pelecypods
("bivalves"); cephalopods; scaphopods |
Ch. 15 |
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10/26,28 |
Review; Lab
Quiz 2 (Thursday; comprehensive) |
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11/2,4 |
Echinoderms--crinoids, blastoids,
& "cystoids"; echinoids, stelleroids |
Ch. 16 |
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11/9,11 |
No new lab—GSA
meeting |
TBA |
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11/16,18 |
Hemichordates (graptolites);
chordates (conodonts & vertebrates) |
Ch. 17 |
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11/23 |
Analysis of fossil assemblage you
collected on field trip |
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11/30,12/2 |
Analysis of fossil assemblage you
collected; prepare report |
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12/7,9 |
Review; Lab
Quiz III (Thursday; comprehensive) |
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11/13 |
Field Trip (Tentatively scheduled
for this date) |
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Text: |
D. R. Prothero, 2004, Bringing
Fossils to Life, 2nd Ed.: WCBrown/McGraw_Hill. (plus TBA readings) |
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