EART30411
Palaeontology- Ecosystems of the Past
10
Semester 1
Undergraduate
Level 6
John Nudds
Unit coordinator
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
1
FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors '
European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 5.0
<div> <div> <p>Most major advances in understanding the history of life on Earth in recent years have been through the study of exceptionally well-preserved biotas (Fossil-Lagerstatten). This course introduces students to some of the most important and best known sites around the globe, and by following these in chronological order from the Precambrian up to the Quaternary enables an appreciation of the evolution over time of fossil ecosystems.</p></div></div><p> </p>
<div> <div> <p>Most major advances in understanding the history of life on Earth in recent years have been through the study of exceptionally well-preserved biotas (Fossil-Lagerstatten). This course introduces students to some of the most important and best known sites around the globe, and by following these in chronological order from the Precambrian up to the Quaternary enables an appreciation of the evolution over time of fossil ecosystems.</p></div></div><p> </p>
<div> <div> <p>The course unit aims to follow the evolution of the first metazoans of the Ediacaran ’garden’, through the ’weird wonders’ of the Burgess Shale, through the giant coal-forests of the Carboniferous, to <em>Archaeopteryx</em>, the world’s first bird, and on to the feathered dinosaurs, recently discovered in China.</p></div></div><p> </p>
<p style="margin-left: 5.7pt"><em>On the successful completion of the course, students will be able to:</em></p><ul> <li style="margin-left: 5.7pt;"> Compare and contrast the best-known and most important worldwide sites of exceptional fossil preservation (Fossil-Lagerstatten</li></ul><ul> <li style="margin-left: 5.7pt;"> Evaluate how ecosystems have evolved through time</li></ul><ul> <li style="margin-left: 5.7pt;"> Evaluate different methods of soft-tissue preservation</li></ul><ul> <li style="margin-left: 5.7pt;"> Analyse and reconstruct ancient environments from a knowledge of their biotas.</li></ul>
<p>Wk 1 – Ediacara</p><p>Wk 2 – The Burgess Shale</p><p>Wk 3 – The Hunsrueck Slate</p><p>Wk 4 – The Rhynie Chert</p><p>Wk 5 – The Holzmaden Shale</p><p>Wk 6 – Reading Week and advice on assessed essay</p><p>Wk 7 – The Solnhofen Limestone</p><p>Wk 8 – The Morrison Formation</p><p>Wk 9 – The Santana and Crato Formations</p><p>Wk 10 – The Jehol Group</p><p> </p>
<div> <p>PowerPoint lectures, plus one-to-one advice on the extended essay coursework.</p></div><p> </p>
1
Written exam
50%
2
Written assignment (inc essay)
50%
<p>Exam (50%) - Exam script viewing March S2</p><p>Essay (50%) - Individual written feedback, March S2</p>
EART10141
Palaeontology and Sedimentary Rocks
Pre-Requisite
Compulsory
BSc (H) Geol with Plan Sci
BSc (H) Geol with Plan Sci
Third Year
Optional
BSc(Hons) Env & Resource Geol
BSc(Hons) Env & Resource Geol
Third Year
Optional
BSc(Hons) Geochemistry
BSc(Hons) Geochemistry
Third Year
Optional
BSc(Hons) Geography & Geology
BSc(Hons) Geography & Geology
Third Year
Optional
BSc(Hons) Geology
BSc(Hons) Geology
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSc(Hons)
MEarthSc(Hons)
Third Year
Optional
MEarthSci (H) Geo w Plan Sc
MEarthSci (H) Geo w Plan Sc
Third Year
Optional
BSc (Hons) Geog Geol Yr Abroad
BSc (Hons) Geog Geol
Third Year
Optional
BSc (Hons) Geog Geol Yr Indust
BSc (Hons) Geog Geol Yr Indust
Third Year
Optional
Y
<p style="margin-left: 5.7pt">Nudds, J.R. and Selden, P.A. 2008. Fossuil Ecosystems of North America. Manson Publishing. 288pp.<br />
<br />
Selden, P.A. and Nudds, J.R. 2012. Evolution of Fossil Ecosystems. Second edition. Manson Publishing. 288pp.</p>
Assessment written exam
2
Lectures
20
0
78